Full text of "A marriage by capture; a romance of to-day"

See other formats

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project
to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject
to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books
are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the
publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.

We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain from automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attribution The Google "watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at http : //books . google . com/|

>y Google

I f.'Vt^y^ yJ*<^ U'^^

'oogle

A'C'-^-

>y Google

THE LOTOS LIBRARY.

Illustrated. i6ino. Polished buckram.
75 cents per volume.

By Elizabeth Phipps Train.

A SOCIAL HIGHWAYMAN.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY.

By Harriet Riddle Davis.

IN SIGHT OF THE GODDESS.
A Tale of Washington Life.

By Robert Buchanan.

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.
A Romance of To- Day.

>y Google

THE REW ^ 0?*!r
PUBUC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX ;»ND
TILDEK FOUJblDA'riON3

>y Google

" Captain Kennedy 1" he cried.

Page 12.

>y Google

A Marriage by Capture

A Romance of To-Day

'WjJl^^-

uv-S.

Robert Buchanan

Aittlior of ''The Siadow of the Swotd," etc.

i <^'

Philadelpfaia

J* B* Lippincott G>fnpany

1896

■>r

] i^/ ; ^ujitized by Google

TlVl I;EW YORK
FUDir: UBPARY

68S488A

ASTOR, LENOX AND

TILDEN FOUNDATIONS

R 1933 L

COPTBIOHT, 1896,
BT

J. B. LipPWCOTT CoMPAinr.

PMNTEO tY J. B. LIPPINOOTT COMPANY, PnIUDELPHIA, U.8.A.

>y Google

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

" Captain Kennedy !" he cried . . . Frontispiece.
** Miss Power," he said, after a pause, " have you

ever been threatened V* 60

"Help! help! will no one come?" 92

" You must remain where you are/' he said, " at

least to-night." 165

00
X

OO Digitized by Google

>y Google

/
/

A Marriage by Capture*

CHAPTER I.

ON the 7th day of January, 1890, as
Father John O'Donnell, the par-
ish priest of Mulrany, County Mayo^
was quietly breakfasting in the coflfee-
room of the Shamrock Hotel, West-
port, the head waiter, Dennis Macart-
ney, an old and privileged retainer of
the establishment, thus addressed him :
" You'll have come from Dublin by
the early morning train. Father John V*
" I have then, Dennis," replied the
priest, leaning back in his chair.
6

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" Did your reverence hear the news ?
Sure they'll have it in the papers this
morning, and ugly news it is entirely."

" What news, Dennis, my man ? I
slept all the way in the train, and drove
straight to the hotel."

"Then read that, your reverence,"
said the waiter, placing in his hands a
large handbill, moist from the press.
" They're posting them over the town,
and the peelers are sending the alarm
all over the county, fipom here to Gal-
way."

The priest adjusted his spectacles on
his nose, and read as follows : —

"£jfOO Reward.
" Last evening y as Miss Catherine Power y
of Castle Craig y was being driven in her
outside car from Newport to BaUyveenyy
she was attacked by masked men, who were
lying in ambush under the bridge on the

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

BaUyveeny road. The driver ^ James
Ferny y was struck down and rendered in-
sensible. When he recovered his senses the
horse and car were standing by him in the
roadf but his mistress had disappeared.
He drove back into the viUage of MuLrany
and gave information to the police. Up to
daybreak this morning nothing has been
heard or seen of the vnforturuite ladyy and
it is feared that she has met with fold play.
Any person who unll give such information
a^ may lead to the identification of her as-
saHants will receive the above reward.
" PoUee Barracks^ Mvlrany^
" Oct. 6th:'

" Saints of heaven !" cried the priest,
turning white as a sheet and springing
to his feet. ^^ Am I awake or dream-
ing? The butchering, cowardly vil-
lains! Have they murdered her at
last?'*

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

His plump and stalwart frame shook
like a leaf, but he clenched his fist as
if to strike some invisible foe.

"I knew it would be sad news to
your reverence," said Dennis, with a
doleful shake of the head.

" Sad news ! It's like a knife in my
heart, Dennis Macartney. My sweet
young lady! The flower of all my
flock ! The prettiest and the best lady
in all Ireland ! And me away in Dub-
lin when I should have been watching
and praying by her side! Give me
my stick, Dennis — ^my hat and my
stick. I'll never ate and Til never rest
till IVe discovered the villains and
hunted them down."

" Captain Kennedy's in the stable
yard, sir, if you'd like to spake to
him."

The priest nodded fiercely, and strode
away, brandishing his stick. As he
8

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

passed out of the back door he came
face to face with a tall, clean-shaven,
military-looking man who was enter-
ing the hotel. In the yard beyond was
an outside car, harnessed to which was
a horse dripping with perspiration, and
close to the car was a group of ostlers
and armed police.

"What's this, Captain Kennedy,
what's this ?" cried the priest. " Is it
the truth I've heard, or some horrible
invention ?"

"It's the truth, Father John," an-
swered Kennedy, touching his cap.
" Miss Power was attacked again last
night, and though we've been scour-
ing the country, we can't find a trace
of her."

" God help us !" gasped Father John,
with the tears streaming down his hon-
est cheeks.

" It's a strange afiair entirely. We
9

>y Google

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

found the poor lady's cloak not far
firom the river-side, and the grass was
all trampled down as if there had been
a desperate struggle. Half a mile
away, on the hill-side, we found a
small lace handkerchief, with stains of
blood on it. Jim Feeny says that, just
as he came to, he heard an awful
scream from down the river, but he
was in dread of his own life, and drove
right away to the barracks/*

"Dead! Murdered! Oh, Catherine,
Catherine, pulse of my heart, my dear
young lady!"

" If she's dead, your reverence, it's
strange that we can find no trace of
the body. We've dragged the river as
far as Ballycroy, and found nothing
whatever. There's just a chance that
it may have been carried down to the
salt water, for there was a flood last
night, but that doesn't seem likely."

>y Google

A MARRIAGE 3Y CAPTURE.

"And the scoundrels who did it?
The butchering, murdering cowards V*
cried the priest, clinging tremulously
to the police captain.

" Sure that's a puzzle too !" replied
Kennedy. " There was money on the
car — ^the poor lady had drawn it at the
bank that morning, and carried it in
her reticule — ^but we found the reticule
wide open, and not a pound-note was
stolen. It wasn't theft the villains were
after, that's certain. It's more likely
that they wanted to be revenged on the
poor lady for some wrong she's done
them."

The eyes of the two men met, and
the same thought seemed to pass
through their minds simultaneously.

"You don't mean that!" said the
priest.

"I do, your reverence," answered
the officer. " There was only one man
11

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

in the county who bore Miss Power
any ill-will, and from information re-
ceived I think that man is at the bottom
of it all."

As Kennedy spoke, the sharp clang
of horses' hoo& resounded on the pave-
ment, and a man, mounted on a power-
ful mare, galloped into the inn yard.
He was a slight yet powerfully-built
man of about thirty, dressed in a tight-
fitting riding-coat, hunting-breeches,
and top-boots. His short and curly
black hair and small black moustache
<3ontrasted strangely with his clear-cut
and finely-moulded features, which
were ghastly pale.

" Captain Kennedy !" he cried, leap-
ing from his horse, and throwing the
bridle to a groom.

"Here, sir," replied the Captain,
adding in a low whisper to the priest,
"Mr. Langford is almost out of his
12

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

wits over the affair. Poor gentlemati !
It's him that offers the reward of a
hundred pounds."

The new-comer approached, and,
seeing the priest, took his hand and
wrung it silently. His manner was
full of deep emotion and agitation.

" Well ?" he asked, eagerly, turning
to the Captain.

" There's nothing new, sir, I'm sorry
to say."

"I've been over to the barracks
again, and questioned Jim Feeny. He
contradicts himself at every word.
Last night he said that only two men
attacked the car, now he thinks there
were half a dozen."

"He hasn't rightly come to his
senses yet," observed Kennedy. " He'll
sober down before the formal in-
quiry."

" Do you think he's to be trusted ?"

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BT CAPTURE.

said Langford. " He may be in league
with the scoundrels."

" I'm sure he's not, sir. Jim's a de-
cent boy, and was a great favourite
with his mistress. We'll have to go
ftirther afield for the men we're after."

Langford's black eyes flashed, and
his lips were set tight together as he
cried :

" We'll find them if we search the
world?"

"Don't you suspect anybody your-
self, sir ?" said Kennedy, with a mean-
ing glance at Father John.

"Suspect? I?" cried Langford. "I
know no one who would have lifted a
finger against that angel."

"Think again, sir," persisted the
oflicer. " Eemember, it isn't the first
time that Miss Power's person has been
threatened, and on a former occa-
sion, though she knew her assailant,

>y Google

A MABMAGE BY CAPTURE.

she wouldn't say a word to convict
him."

" The blessing of all the saints upon
her!" murmured the priest. "Her
heart was too kindly."

Langford seemed to reflect^ fixing
his eyes on the ground and tapping his
boot nervously with his riding-whip;
then, looking up, he suddenly ex-
claimed :

'^ Tou mean that blackguard cousin
of hers, Patrick Blake?"

Kennedy nodded, and the other con-
-tinued :

" It can't be ! I won't believe it ! I
know the fellow's a drunkard and a
blackguard, but after all, he's a gentle-
man, and her own kith and kin."

Kennedy could not repress a emile.

" That's just it, sir, as I was explain-
ing to his reverence. If Miss Power
hadn't inherited the estates under her

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

aunt's will, Patrick Blake would have
been the heir, and if Miss Power dies
intestate, as they call it, he inherits
after all. Then, just recall what took
place afl;er the poor lady came to live
at the castle. You weren't the only
one, sir (forgive me for saying it), who
thought her worth the winning. Pat-
rick Blake began by cursing and threat-
ening the lady who displaced him, and
ended by han^ng after and wanting to
make her his wife. She sent him to
the right-about, as he deserved. After
that, she was attacked when riding on
horseback, and had to ask for police
protection. She knew well enough
who was guilty, but she held her
tongue, because she was kind-hearted
and he was her kinsman. The second
time, when she thought herself safe
close to her own house, a blackguard
molested her, and you yourself saved

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTTJBB.

her. Put this and that together, Mr.
Langford, and you'll see we're not far
wrong. At any rate, Pm going over
with my man to Blake's place this
morning, and if the fellow can't give a
right account of himself, we'll have him
safe under lock and bolt before night."

As the officer spoke, Langford lis-
tened with intense interest, uttering
from time to time a nervous exclama-
tion, as the force of Kennedy's argu-
ments seemed to dawn upon him.

"It looks black," he muttered.
" You say you are going there now?"

" As soon as the horses have had a
feed."

" Then PU ride over with you, and
if it is as you say "

He paused, clutching his riding-whip,
and his eyes flashed dangerously ; then
as Kennedy walked away to give his
orders, he turned to the priest with a

2 17

Digitized by Google

A MABEIAGE BT CAPTURE*

look BO forlorn, bo deBpairing, that the
good &ther'B heart was Btirred to the
depths.

** God comfort you, sir !" said Father
John. " It's you that loved her as the
apple of your eye, and it's myself that
hoped to spake the holy words that
would have made you man and vdfe."

^^ I had no chance that way," replied
the young man, sadly. '^ I had nothing
to offer her but an old name and barren
acres. But you're right; I loved her
with all my heart and soul."

Half an hour later the car, contain-
ing Captain Kennedy and his armed
police, was driving rapidly northward,
in the direction of Newport, followed
by another car, on which was seated
the portly firame of Father John
O'Donnell. Just before they started,
Langford had galloped away in the
same direction.

>y Google

A MABBIAGE B7 CAPTUB^.

The traveller who is acquainted with
the desolate scenery of Clew Bay knows
how sad and dreary are its prospects,
though for the lover of wild landscape
they possess a beauty of their own.
On the afternoon of which we are
writing, there was little to brighten or
animate the scene. Thick clouds were
drifting fipom the Atlantic and cluster-
ing in grey vapour round the distant
mountains of Mulrany and Achill, and
inland, a drizzly rain was falling from
the grey and sunless sky. On either
side of the road pursued by Langford
stretched barren bogs and watery pas-
tures, divided into sections by grey
stone walls, with here and there a
glimpse of a lonely homestead and a
clump of leafless trees.

Presently Langford reined in his
horse, and suffered it to walk, while he
sat in the saddle, lost in gloomy medi-

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BT GAPTUBE.

tation. In this fashion he pursued his
solitary way for several miles, until he
saw in the distance the roofs and chim-
neys of the little town of Newport
He then stopped his horse and, after a
moment's reflection, turned into a nar-
row by-road which led to the left, in
the direction of the sea.

Urging his horse into a trot, he pro-
ceeded rapidly for about a mile, when
the road ended in a broken stone wall.
Leaping the wall, he found himself in
a meadow of thick coarse grass, at the
further extremity of which, facing the
sea, was a house built of white stone —
a large and lonely house, much stained
and damaged by wind and weather,
but having the appearance of having
been at some distant period a fine man-
sion. Attached to it were walled gar-
dens and a large orchard full of trees,
which yielded little fruit.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTUEU.

This was Langford's house, where
the fiunily of Langford had dwelt for
generations, and where he, a bachelor,
and the last of his line, still resided.

A solitary place, far removed from
any human abode. Although there
was room there for a large establish-
ment (as the auctioneers express it),
everything was disordered, dilapidated,
and tumble-down. The house itself
faced a weedy lawn, at the bottom of
which was a stone wall, and beyond the
Wall stretched green saltings, and salt
pools, covered at high tide by the sea.

IJ'ot a human creature was visible as
Langford rode round to the front door,
but the sound of his horse's hoofs was
heard within the house, for an upper
window opened, and a face looked out
— ^the fiace of an old woman.

"Any news, Nannie?** he asked,
looking up.

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE;

" None, your honour," said the wo-
man.

"Where's Michael r

" Sure, he's here. Will I bid him
come down and take your honour's
horse?''

"No; I'm going on beyond New-
port, to meet the police."

"There's no tidings of the poor
young lady ?"

"None."

"Rest her sowl in glory, they'll
be missing her sorely yonder at the
Castle."

" If the police come here, tell them
I've ridden on to Patrick Blake's.
You understand?"

" Yes, your honour."

He turned his horse's head and
moved slowly away, but, pausing at
the side of the house, he gazed quietly
at the dismal saltings and distant sea.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE,

"Poor Catherine!" he muttered.
** She was right, after all, to turn away
from such a house as this. What a
fool and a madman I have been ?"

A little later he rode into the town
of Newport, and paused a moment op-
posite the hotel, where a group of
ragged gossips was collected.

"Has Captain Kennedy passed
through the town?'' he asked.

" No, your honour," answered a man,
touching his forelock.

He pricked his horse with his spurs,
and trotted on, while the group behind
him uttered a simultaneous wail of
sympathy.

" Poor gintleman ! He looks heart-
broken, and shmall wonder," said the
man who had answered his question.
" They're saying the poor lady is lying
kilt at the bottom of the say."

>y Google

CHAPTER II.

rUST outside Newport the highway
^ divides into two roads, one wind-
ing almost due west along the borders
of Clew Bay, the other turning north-
wards among the mountains of Mayo.
Langford took the latter, which fol-
lowed the sides of a shallow river,
brawling, brown with mud and peat
moss, and swollen by the recent floods.
Three Irish miles away, on the road-
side and facing the river, was a two-
storied dwelling roofed with slate, and
surrounded with farm buildings and
cattle sheds. Over the door of this
house was exhibited the legend, " John
24

>y Google

A MARBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Carey, licensed to sell spirits tod to-
bacco/' and here, as a sort of perma-
nent lodger, resided Mr, Patrick Blake,
the man whom Langford was seeking.

In front of the house and behind it
rose the steep and barren mountains,
feathered on the lower slopes with
stunted heather and grass, but for the
most part black, shiny, and bare. Be-
tween them, rushing past the high
road, was the river.

Langford rode slowly up to the inn.
A savage-looking man, dressed in the
usual long tail coat, knee-breeches,
and narrow-brimmed high hat, sat on
a wooden seat near the door, splicing a
broken salmon-rod. He looked up
with a scowl as the horseman ap-
proached, and then, recognising him,
touched his hat. Langford leapt from
the saddle.

" Look after the mare, Timlin," h^

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTXJREa

Baid. ^^ I want to speak to Mr. Blake ;
is he at home ?"

" He*8 in there, your honour/* replied
the man, holding his horse by the bri-
dle and jerking his thumb towards the
house. "There's company wid him:
from Castlebar."

Langford entered the inn and found
himself in a large kitchen, where an
elderly woman was bending over an
iron pot. Beyond the kitchen was a
closed door, through which came the
sound of men's voices. Without a
word to the woman, who seemed star-
tled by his appearance, Langford strode
across the floor, opened the closed,
door, and, standing on the threshold,
gazed with an angry scowl on the room
within.

It was a small, low-rpofed tap-room,
with one window looking on the rear
of the house. Its only furniture was a
26

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

long wooden table and several forms.
Seated at the table were four men,
with a whisky bottle and glasses before
tiiem, playing cards.

Two of these men were peasants
closely resembling the man whom
Langford met at the door; savage-
looking, nnkempt fellows, with square
jaws and lowering eyes. The third
man was a little thick-set person,
dressed in shabby broadcloth, and with
a face fall of the cunning of his class,
for he was one Peter Linnie, a small
pettifogging solicitor from Castlebar.
The fourth man, on whom Langford
fixed his eyes, was different in every
respect from his companions.

He could not have been more than
five and twenty years of age, ^nd he
looked even younger. His hair was
sandy yellow, his complexion white
and bloodlesp, his eyes large and blue,

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

with dark rings around them, sugges-
tive of dissipation. A stubby red
moustache covered his upper lip; the
under lip was thick and sensual.

He was leaning on the table holding
his cards, with a low-crowned hat
thrust on the back of his head^ and a
short pipe held between hi^v teeth.
Coarse and reckless as he seemed,
there was something in his manner
and demeanour which showed him to
be superior to his surroundings, and
his dress, a knickerbocker suit of light
tweed, with a coUarless flannel shirt
thrown open at the throat, and cut like
the dress of a gentleman.

This was Patrick Blake, one of the
Blakes of Ballyveeny, a very old Mayo
family.

As Langford appeared, he looked
up with an angry exclamation.

"Monomondianol!"he cried.

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"Who's this that comes into the so-
ciety of gentlemen without knocking
and asking leave ? O, it's you, is it, Mr.
Philip Langford,'* he continued, with a
sarcastic grin ; " and may I ask what
the devil brings you so far away from
Castle Craig?"

"Pve come to look for you,'' an-
swered Langford, sternly, " and to talk
to you, if you're sober enough to listen."

Blake flung down his cards with an
oath, and, springing to his feet, seized
the whisky bottle as if about to hurl it
at the other's head; but Linnie the
lawyer seized his arm and whispered
in his ear. He nodded and laughed
tipsily, and sank back into his chair.

"All right," he said. "Come in,
Langford ! If you've brought us any
news of my cousin Kate, we're at your
service."

Langford walked into the room and

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPl^UBE.

stood at the end of the table^ confront-
ing the group,

"You know well I've brought na
news. I've come to seek it, and I
warn you "

"Have a drink?" cried the young
man, insolently. " Here, Carey, bring
in another bottle of Jamieson, atid
chalk it up to yours truly."

As he spoke another person appeared
upon the scene — a girl of about twenty,
dressed in short gown and petticoat of
a peasant woman, and barefooted. She
was singularly handsome, with bright
golden hair, pale complexion, and large
grey eyes; but her expression was bold
and reckless, that of a woman who
had lost the freshness and innocence
of youth.

" Sorra drop more you'll have this
morning," said the girl. "You're
drunk enough already."

>y Google

A HABBIAGE BY CAPITJBK

" Hould your tongue, Mary !** cried
one of the men, John Carey, the land-
lord of the inn,

"And FU not hould my tongue,
father, so long as I see Mr. Patrick
drinking his sinse away and you look*
ing on," cried the girl, leaning against
the lintel of the door and folding her
arms defiantly. " Spake to the gintle-
man civilly, Mr. Patrick. Maybe he's
here for your good."

Blake laughed loudly, and winked
at the lawyer.

" Sit down, Mary acushla, and don't
be a fool !" he said ; then, squaring his
chin, and looking at Langford, " Well,
fire away ! What is it ?"

" In the first place," said Langford,
"I warn you that Captain Kennedy
and the police are after you and will be
here immediately."

A murmur ran round the room.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"So that's it, is it?" cried Blake.
" It was mighty polite of you to come
and tell me. And what may the police
want with me, may I ask?"

" You are suspected, rightly or
wrongly, of having something to do
with the disappearance of your cousin.
Miss Catherine Power. It is well
known that you attacked her on a
former occasion, and that youVe more
than once threatened her life."

The young man's face went white
with rage and terror, and he uttered a
savage oath.

" Take care what you say, Mr. Lang-
ford," said the lawyer. " Mr. Blake is
my client, and your language is ac-
tionable."

" He knows that I speak the truth,"
answered Langford, sternly.

" I know this, Philip Langford," said
Blake, leaning over the table and look-

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

ing fiercely into his face, " that you^re
what you always have been, a meddler
and a fool. Put that in your pipe and
smoke it ! As for my cousin, she got
what she deserves, since she came be-
tween me and my birthright ! Yes —

by , my birthright ! And if she's

dead, as they say, what then? The
more fool she ! I offered to make her
Mrs. Blake, and to share the estates
with her, and she showed me the door.
Then you came creeping after her, bad
luck to you, but more power to her, she
sent you to the right-about after me !
She'd sense enough for that, any way !"

Throughout this tirade, Langford
retained his self-control, but his face
grew paler and there was a dangerous
look in his dark eyes.

He was about to speak again, when
the tramp of feet was heard in the
kitchen, and Captain Kennedy, fol-

8 88

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

lowed by two policemen carrying their
muskets, entered the room. A cry
went up from the men, but Mary Carey
remained silent, still leaning against
the lintel of the door, and watching
the face of Patrick Blake.

** You're here before us, Mr. Lang-
ford," said Kennedy. "Well, what
has Mr. Blake to say for himself?"

"You'd better question him," an-
swered Langford, quietly.

" Clear the room, John Carey," said
Kennedy to the landlord, "and take
your daughter with you. Be handy,
though, for I may want you."

"I shall remain with my client,"
said the lawyer. "You know me,
Captain Kennedy — Peter Linnie, at-
torney, of Castlebar."

"Yes, I know you well enough,"
answered the officer, with a shrug of
the shoulders.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

The men had slunk out of the room,
but the girl remained moveless.

"Now, then, my girl," said Ken-
nedy, " you can't stop here. Out you
go!"

"What are you going to do?" she
demanded, raising her voice. " Are
you going to arrest him, a gintleman
born?"

" That's our business."

" No, it's mine ! I dare ye to lay a
finger on him, and I'll stay where I
am!"

Kennedy signalled to the constables,
who were about to eject the girl by
gentle force, when Father John O'Don-
nell entered the room, and, fixing his
eyes upon her, cried —

" Is it you, Mary Carey, that would
come between a murderer and the law ?
Down on your knees, woman, and
thank the Lord ye're not whipt through

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE,

County Mayo at the cart's tail, as they
used to whip women of your kind long
ago. I've spoken to your priest, and
he tells me that 'tis a year now since
ye came to confession, and by the same
token, it's many an ugly sin ye have to
hide."

" Get out, Mary," exclaimed Blake.
" It's all right ! I'll talk to them !"

More cowed by the priest's invective
than by the armed forces of the law,
Mary retreated, saying as she went, —

"Tell them nothing, Mr. Patrick!
I'd let the tongue blister in my mouth
before I'd spake a word !"

The constables closed the door and
stood guarding it.

" Now, then, Mr. Blake," said Ken-
nedy, sitting down, " I want to ask you
a few questions. If you can answer
them satisfactorily, so much the better
for you, but I warn you, in the first

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

place, that anything you say will be
used against you."

"I've nothing to say except one
thing," answered Blake,

"Welir

" That ril be even before long with
him that gave information against me ;"
and he glared fiercely at Langford.

Kennedy smiled.

" You're wrong there, my man. Mr.
Langford has nothing to do with the
matter. We've had an eye on your
doings for a long time, and needed no
informer to tell us what you were."

"All the same, I'll be even with
him," muttered Blake.

" Now, then, where were you yester-
day?"

"Here, and down along the river,
salmon fishing," replied Blake, sul-
lenly.

"All day?"

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" All day. Michael Conolly was with
me, you can ask him."

Kennedy made an entry in his note-
book.

" Just before sunset, Miss Power left
Newport on her way to Ballyveeny.
About seven o'clock, according to the
car-driver's evidence, she was passing
the stone bridge, when armed men
attacked the car. They must have
been waiting there for some hours, for
we found empty whisky bottles on the
grass below the bridge."

" What's all this to me ?" demanded
Blake.

"You'll see. Where were you be-
tween six and seven ?"

" Drinking in this room with Michael
Conolly and John Carey. If you'll
ask them, they'll tell you I was blind
drunk. Mary Carey can tell you the

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Kennedy looked at Langford, who
shrugged his shoulders, but the priest,
who had been listening excitedly to the
conversation, now interposed.

" Patrick Blake, as you've a soul to
be saved, speak the truth ! Down on
your knees, and ask forgiveness of the
God youVe offended. Our hearts are
aching — ^set them at rest ! What have
ye done with the poor young lady?
Tell the . truth, and save your soul !
It's I myself will plead for mercy for
ye, if you really and truly repent, and
make confession."

"I've nothing to confess," snarled
Blake, " so you only waste your breath."

" Three months ago. Miss Power was
attacked by a masked man," said Ken-
nedy, quietly. " She escaped, leaving
the mark of her riding-whip upon his
face. I had a warrant to arrest you
then, and I've got it in my pocket" .
fi9

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE,

"Why didn't you execute it?" de-
manded the young man, with a sneer ;
but, although his manner remained full
of bravado, he was clearly cowed by
the officer's statement.

"Because Miss Power herself en-
treated us to pass the matter over.
She had recognised her assailant, but
didn't wish to have him punished."

" That was very kind of her," said
Blake, leering at the attorney. " May-
be she'd her reasons."

" Silence !" exclaimed Father O'Don-
nell. "Speak of that angel with re-
spect, or my stick and your skull will
be better acquainted !"

"Wheesht, your reverence!" said
Kennedy. " Now, Mr. Blake, listen to
me. Miss Power has disappeared, and
it is evident she has met with foul play.
The only man who ever threatened her
with violence, and the man who at
. 40

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

least on one occasion actually attacked
her, is the man who had the greatest
interest in her death. That man is
yourself. Under these circumstances,
Tm going to arrest you."

Blake sprang up and rushed to the
window.

"You*d better take it easy/' said
the officer, smiling, while the heads
of two more policemen appeared out-
side. " Shall I handcuff you, or will
you come civilly like a gentleman, as
you are.*'

Blake decided to come civilly, and
was led from the room in the custody
of the two constables. As he swag-
gered past Langford, he hissed be-
tween his teeth —

" you ! Don't forget what I've

promised you."

One by one the men were called in
and questioned. They all supported

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Blake's statement, that he had spent
the previous day in their neighbour-
hood, fishing in the river and drinking
at the inn.

"Do you think they are speaking
the truth?" asked Langford, ner-
vously.

" No, sir," answered Kennedy. " I'm
sure they're lying. They're Blake's
creatures, and, in my opinion, his ac-
complices. John Carey is the greatest
scoundrel unhung, and ConoUy is not
much better. Now we'll have in the
girl, and see if we can get anything
out of her."

With set teeth and flashing eyes,
Mary Carey bounded into the room,
and folding her arms defiantly faced
the oflicer. Even then she looked
singularly handsome.

"Now, Mary machree," said Ken-
nedy, good-humouredly, "I'm sure

>y Google

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

you're a sensible girl and don't want
to cause trouble. Perhaps you don't
quite realise yet that this may be a
hanging business, and I shouldn't like
to think such a pretty colleen as you
was concerned in it. I know you're
very fond of Mr. Blake, of course, and
it's natural enough, for he's a fine,
bold, upstanding gentleman, but "

" Who told you I was fond of him ?"
asked the girl, with a toss of the head.

" Sure, we all know it, darling, and
we don't blame you. But come now,
tell the truth and shame the devil,
like an honest colleen, as I'm sure you
are."

"I'll tell you nothing," said Mary,
setting her lips together.

"Don't say that now, for it's un-
worthy of you. Some day you'll be
getting married, and I'd like to dance
at your wedding."

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

She gave a short, mocking laugh,

" There's more than me that thought
of marryin', maybe/* she said, "and
yet it didn't come off."

" Meaning Miss Power ?" asked the
Captain. **Well, now, Mary, they're
saying that young Mr. Blake was mad
with love for her, and clean lost his
head when she refused to be his wife."

" He never wanted her," said Mary,
flushing angrily. **If he ever went
afther her at all at all, it was because
he wanted her money, which was his
by rights."

"And when he couldn't get either
the lady or the money, he swore to be
revenged !" observed Kennedy.

"I don't know what that is," re-
turned Mary. **A11 I know is that
she's got what she worked for, and
won't cause any more trouble."

"But, come now,'^ said Kennedy,

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

persuasively, "isn't it a puzzle what
has happened to her ? Not a trace of
her can we find, though we Ve dragged
the river from the bridge down to the
sea/*

"Then ye'd better drag the say it-
self,'* cried the girl with a laugh.
" Maybe it's there ye'U find her."

Langford trembled, and a horrified
exclamation escaped from the priest,
but Kennedy remained quite cool.

" Mr. Blake tells me he was here all
yesterday, and all last night," he said.

"If Mr. Blake says that same it's
true."

"Was he in your company?"

"You'd better ask him," was the
curt answer.

"Mind what you're saying," said
the oflicer, with sudden sternness. " If
you're not careful you may put the rope
round your lover's neck, for there's

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

been murder done, and it's a hanging
business.**

Not the least disconcerted by the
statement, Mary looked full in the offi-
cer's face and made this significant re-
ply—

"Sure, how can there be murder
when ye can't prove that anybody's
kilt ? When ye find the body 'twill be
time to talk." And she walked coolly
out of the room.

Kennedy looked perplexed.

"You heard that?" he said, turning
to Langford, " I'm sure now that that
girl knows everything, but torture it-
self would never get a word out of her.
I can't arrest her on mere suspicion,
but I shall keep a sharp eye on her
while Blake is in custody."

They found Blake outside the inn,
guarded by the police* He had re-
gained all his coolness, and was ex-

>y Google

A MABSIAGE BY CAPTUBE,

changing rough jests with his captors
and with his savage acquaintances who
clustered near the door.

"Keep your heart up, Mr. Patrick!"
cried Carey, as the prisoner took his
place on the car. " Sure we*ll all stand
by you.'*

Blake nodded and beckoned to Mary,
who stood at the inn door, her lips
trembling and her eyes full of tears.
She ran up to the car, holding out her
hands.

" Mind what I told you V^ said Blake,
mysteriously.

The girl nodded and wrung his hand.

The police car drove off amidst dead
silence, but when Langford mounted
his horse to follow there was a general
groan.

"The blackguards!" cried Father
John, standing up on his car and shak-
ing his fist. "Never heed them, sir.

>y Google

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

There's a rope round the neck of every
one of them."

As he spoke, the driver cracked his
whip and the horse started off, nearly
projecting the priest into the road, but
while the group at the inn door laughed
derisively he clung to the rail and seated
himself with as much dignity as was
possible under the circumstances.

As Langford prepared to follow,
Mary Carey ran up to his horse's side
and placed her hand upon the bridle.

" Bad luck to ye for this day's work !"
she said. " It's me and mine that will
remember it, even if Mr. Patrick for-
gets !"

Scarcely raising his eyes he shook
the bridle from her hand and rode
slowly away, the very incarnation of
misery and despair.

>y Google

g-i5\UnUn]MlMai[nU^^

mm\h

^^!\M

fjiy/lUjLlinlJjllljlUu»ljiUnllj\lfilUllll!lUjllJjllI,. .1

'1 op"'i *:

Sl -:-?:?- 4'.^ 1

i5>»vs^^

t"-

o^ ^^.S'V^'U'I

i fi^jmaiijnonifflaiy^

mihm

ii/mau,

aymmifj\UnUJiyjMi¥ai'MfnyjitijiL'jii'ji'^,

CHAPTER IIL

TT is necessary, now, to trace the
-*- course of certain extraordinary
events which had taken place pre-
viously to the final disappearance of
the heroine of this true story.

Miss Catherine Power was the most
popular lady in the whole of the county
of Mayo. She possessed three stepping
stones to popularity : she was beautiful,
wealthy, and unmarried.

When it was rumoured that she was
coming to Newport to take possession
of the property which had been most
unexpectedly left to her, it was gener-
ally predicted that the local gentry

4 49

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

would receive her with open arms. It
was something, indeed, in that wild
district, to be the lucky possessor of
Castle Craig, with a rent roll of several
thousands a year. But when the young
lady appeared personally upon the
scene the money became a secondary
consideration altogether. It had been
expected, yet not one could tell exactly
why, that the unknown heiress would
be a mature lady of goodly propor-
tions, with a keen eye, an aggressive
nose, and a purse-proud, haughty air.
Miss Power, however, was but three
and twenty years of age, had a tall,
slim figure, a finely formed head and
face, and the grace of a lady to the
manner born. Her hair was jet black,
her skin fair as a lily, her eyebrows
dark, and her eyes of a deep violet
blue*

Whether she smiled or frowned, or

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

gazed with that dreamy look which
her face so often wore, Catherine
Power never for a moment lost the
fatal power of fascination which was
destined to prove her bane.

By one and all this power of hers
was felt. The men might shrug their
shoulders at the thought of meeting
the popular heiress of Castle Craig,
the angry mammas might sneer, the
jealous maidens rail, but once they
were introduced into the lady's pres-
ence they succumbed as all before had
done, and laid their allegiance at her
feet. In a word, she came like a queen
to her own, and reigned absolute.

In addition to her wealth, her beauty,
and her single-blessedness, she had two
other supreme gifts to win the hearts
of the Irish gentry — she danced like a
sylph, and she sat her horse like an
angel.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Little or nothing was known of her
antecedents, except that she had been
brought up in England, where her
parents had died, leaving her a small
fortune, quite enough for a single
young lady to subsist upon. Then
came the announcement of her acces-
sion to the Mayo estates, which was
closely followed by her appearance at
Castle Craig, where for many days she
kept open house, receiving the calls
and congratulations of the gentry and
tenantry.

Before long the whole of the county
was ringing with the echoes of her
name, and the local newspapers thought
it their duty to chronicle her comings
and goings, as if she were an offshoot
of royalty. Suitors swarmed about
her like bees about a sugar-bowl, but
the dreamy young lady, conscious of
her worth, merely smiled to herself

>y Google

A MAREIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

and dismissed them one and all with a
polite but decided " no."

Whether or not society was distaste-
ful to her no one could tell; but the
fact remains that she showed a curious
love of solitude, and was in the habit
of taking lonely walks, rides, and drives
in the most dreary parts in the district.

Her groom was by no means aston-
ished, therefore, when, one dark au-
tumn day. Miss Power ordered her
favourite horse to be saddled, and can-
tered away from the Castle without
escort of any kind. She felt in the
mood for a good long ride that day;
so she galloped to Westport, a distance
of fifteen miles, and having executed
some commissions, started again for
home.

It was a fresh though cloudy after-
noon, the wind was blowing briskly
from the sea, and as the horse's hoofs

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE,

clattered on the road the eyes of the
fair rider sparkled, her cheeks flushed,
and her lips parted to drink in the
breath of the salt bracing air. When
she had covered some twelve miles of
the homeward way, and had reached
the outskirts of the Castle Wood, she
reined in her steaming horse and
trotted along a bridle-path which
skirted the woods, and cut off two
miles of the road.

She had been trotting thus for about
ten minutes when she heard a rustling
among the trees, and a man dressed as
a peasant, but wearing a crape mask,
rushed from the shelter of the woods
and seized her bridle-rein.

The horse reared furiously, but the
lady kept her seat, and raising her
riding-whip brought it down sharply
right across the ruffian's face. At this
unexpected attack he fell back, while

,yG(j)OQle

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

Miss Power, applying both spur and
whip to her frightened horse, made him
bound forward and gallop furiously in
the direction of the Castle.

When Miss Power dismounted at
her own door her face was pale, and
her fair form was still trembling from
the fright of the recent adventure, but
alighting from her horse she handed
the reins to the groom and said quietly :

"Leave the stabling of Wildfire to
some one else to-night, Cormick; I
want you to ride over to Mulrany.
Make haste, and when you are ready,
send in for a note from me."

Then she entered the house, and
going direct to her boudoir sat down
and wrote as follows :

" To Sergeant Flynn, — ^Kindly send
me at once an armed patrol. I want
the Castle to be guarded night and

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

day — at least for a time. As I was
riding to-day I was molested by a
peasant in a crape mask who seized
my horse's bridle. It will be as well
for me, therefore, to have police pro-
tection. I dine this evening at Cladich
Castle, and should like to be attended.
" Catherine Power."

Having sent this letter down to her
groom, the lady entered her drawing-
room and played absently on the piano.
An hour later she went to her dressing-
room to put herself under the hands
of her maid. As she sat before the
great cheval glass, apparently gazing
at her own image and smiling at what
she saw, she was in reality gazing at the
mysterious figure which had stopped
her on the road, and smiling at the
fright which it had given her.

>y Google

Jl mabriage by captube.

" Heigho," she thought, ^' it seems to
me that money does not bring much
happiness. The life of an heiress is
devoted to warding off robbery in one
shape or another. They are all thieves,
only they carry on their trade in a dif-
ferent fashion. Most of them would
marry me first and rob me afterwards,
but this poor fool was evidently under
the impression that I carried my for-
tune in my pocket, and was determined
to dispossess me of it at one fell blow.
I did well, I think, to send for the
police. The ruflian, whoever he is,
will be frightened at any rate."

While she was musing thus, her
maid's hands were busy. There was
to be a big dance that night at Lord
Portaclare's place, a fine old mansion
situated midway between Newport and
Westport, and Miss Power was to be
the belle of the evening. And a belle

>y Google

A MABEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

indeed she seemed when her toilette
was completed. She wore a ball dress
of white satin, with diamonds in her
hair, red roses on her bosom, and brace-
lets of gold filagree on her shapely
arms.

There was a knock at the door, and
a voice said :

"Captain Kennedy is below, miss,
waiting to see you."

She gave one glance at herself in the
glass, sprinkled some scent upon her
lace handkerchief, and descended to
the drawing-room, where she found the
polite captain.

" I was at the barracks when your
note arrived. Miss Power, so I thought
rd come over myself. Tve brought
two of the constabulary along with
me."

" Thank you. Captain Kennedy."

"This is a strange affair entirely,"

>y Google

A MABEIAGE BY CAPTURE.

continued the officer. "Have you
any idea who it was that attacked
you?"

"Not the slightest," answered the
lady, with a smile.

"Do you think he was a common
robber?"

" It certainly looked like it."

" It was lucky you kept your pres-
ence of mind, miss," said Kennedy,
with an admiring look. " How was it
you escaped scot free ?"

" Well, the whole affair was so sud-
den that I hardly know what happened.
The moment the man seized my bridle.
Wildfire reared, and then, instinctively,
I laid my whip across the man's cheek,
and before he could recover himself I
was off and away."

The inspector looked puzzled and
very serious.

"I'd like to ask you one question,

>y Google

A MAREIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

Miss Power," he said, after a pause.
" Have you ever been threatened ?"

She looked uneasy, but answered
without hesitation—

" Yes, once."

" Do you know who threatened you ?"

'^Perfectly, but I would rather not
mention his name at present."

"As you please, miss," said Ken-
nedy, a little surprised, " only, if you
gave us some clue, we shouldn't be
working quite so much in the dark."

" I have particular reasons for saying
nothing at present," remarked Miss
Power, "only I think it prudent to
protect myself from any attacks in the
future."

When Catherine descended the stairs
she found her carriage, with a mounted
policeman on either side of it, awaiting
her at the door. Thus escorted, she
started for Cladich Castle.

>y Google

' ,M»«( sr.».iift)-v^>iti»'-<.

** Miss Power," he said, after a pause, "have you
ever been threatened ?"

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

When the lady arrived at her desti-
nation escorted in so unusual a man^
ner, everybody was on tenter-hooks to
know what it all meant. Not a whis-
per of the adventure had as yet got
abroad, but the groom had dropped a
word to the footman, the footman to
the coachman, and that individual
made himself during the evening an
object of very considerable interest in
the kitchen of the Castle.

Miss Power herself carried the news
to the ball-room, where a large and
gallant company was assembled. Dur-
ing the evening the adventure was lib-
erally discussed, but the heroine made
light of it and seemed in the highest
of spirits. After one of the waltzes in
which he had been her happy partner,
Mr. Philip Langford, a friend and
neighbour, found himself alone with
Miss Power.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

** My dear Miss Power/* said he, as
the two paced up and down among the
exotics, " you really want some one to
protect you from this sort of thing/'

"Of course," returned Catherine,
archly, "and I have appointed some
one. Did I not arrive here attended
by an escort of police ?"

The gentleman coloured and bit his
lip. In point of fact he had long been
dancing attendance on the lady of the
Castle, and to all outward appearance
he was a most eligible match. He was
fairly young and passably handsome,
could sit a horse well in the hunting
field, and, though somewhat moody and
taciturn in general, was sweetness it-
self to those he liked. Unfortunately,
he was poor, all his possessions being
a tumble-down mansion and about
three or four hundred a year. But
what he lacked in money he made up

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

for in descent. His ancestors counted
much farther back than he could trace
at all, but he knew for certain and he
very often boasted that one of them
was on the ship which brought over
Grana O'Mailley to the English court.
Despite all this, and although she had
often found herself looking at his hand-
some face and manly figure with some
degree of admiration, Catherine could
never bring herself to look with any
favour upon his suit.

"The fact is," she said to herself
over and over again, " I like them all
so much that I cannot choose one.
Nowif they would only leave marrying
alone, and be content to be my friends,
how much nicer it would be."

Having made that sly remark about
the police, Catherine peeped into her
companion's face and saw how darkly
it was clouded.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" What's the matter ?" she said, softly.
" Are you angry ?"

"Angry? what right have I to be
angry ? I am anxious on your account.*'

" Once warned, twice armed !" cried
Catherine, smiling. * ' Captain Kennedy
is awfully nice, and would give me a
whole regiment of constabulary if I
asked him."

Then seeing that his face was still
shadowed, she added sweetly :

"Please forgive me, Mr. Langford,
and let us be friends. I did not mean
any offence, I assure you !"

In a moment the young man's face
turned smilingly to hers: he gazed
upon her with a look which made her
blush and turn her head away.

"Catherine," he said, passionately,
" if you want to please me, you know
the way. You have but to give me
the right to protect you !"

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"Ah, but I cannot do that/* re-
turned Catherine, and with that will-
o'-the-wisp friendship always blinding
. her eyes, she clung to his arm when
she should never have stayed with him
at all. Thus it was that the two con-
tinued to pace up and down among the
shrubs and flowers; the man making
the best of his time to urge his suit,
the girl listening half-pleased, half-
sorry, until at length she was startled
from her dream by the fierce scrutiny
of a pair of eyes which were watching
her from the door.

"Why, there is my cousin!" she
cried, quitting the side of her aston-
ished companion. "How do you do,
Mr. Blake?" she continued, as she
paused before him, holding forth her
hand, " this is the first I have seen of
you this evening. The fact is I have
been so besieged with curious people

5 65

>y Google

A HABBIAGE BY CAPTT7BE.

anxious to obtain some description of
the person who tried to rob me on the

road that — ^that '*

She £a,ltered and turned pale, for as
she spoke her eyes had wandered care-
lessly over the countenance of her vis-
drvis. His pale face was disfigured by
a livid mark which stretched from
forehead to cheek, and one eye was
swollen as if by a sharp blow.

>y Google

CHAPTER IV.

'VTO'CrNG Patrick Blake, known to
-■^ his intimate acquaintances as " the
squireen," had neither house nor lands,
though he belonged by right of birth to
an old county family. In spite of his
poverty, he had great expectations, for
his uncle. Sir William Craig, of Craig
Castle, had no issue, and young Patrick
was the next of kin. The property,
however, was not entailed, and it was
entirely in Sir "William's discretion
how it should be disposed of.

During his uncle's lifetime Patrick
paid assiduous court to the old man,
and received in return a modest allow-

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

ance, which he dissipated fireely among
his companions. From childhood up-
ward he had been a black sheep, caring
little for decent society and spending
his time in the company of his infe-
riors ; but he was a daring rider, a good
shot, and he could tie a fly or play a
salmon with any man in Mayo. His
escapades, which would have shocked
most people, only amused Sir William.

"Pat is a wild young devil,'' he
would say to his wife, " but so was I
myself at his age. Some day he'll
marry and sober down."

Before the young man could do
either, the old gentleman died, leaving
everything he possessed to his wife, ex-
cept a miserable hundred a year, which
was assigned to his ** beloved nephew,"
Patrick Blake.

Young Patrick cursed and raged for
a time, but he had sense enough left to
68

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

transfer his court to the widow, whom
he invariably described as *Hhe old
woman." He went with her to church
(she was a Protestant), carried her
prayer-book, and posed as a young
saint, only escaping from time to time
to more congenial society, in which he
could drink and swear comfortably,
and curse his bad luck.

Things were going on very well from
his point of view — that is, the old lady
was in very delicate health and likely
to follow her lord and master, after
having made a will in her nephew's
favour — ^when a serious scandal, in
which a young peasant girl was con-
cerned, opened Lady Craig's eyes to
the true character of her scapegrace
nephew. She held her tongue,, altered
her will, and died peaceably, leaving
the Castle and the estates to a niece of
her own, Miss Catherine Power.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTUR]^.

When the will was read, young Pat-
rick used language which is not gen-
erally popular in polite circles, cursed
" the old woman," and expressed a hope
that she was enjoying a warmer cli-
mate, and riding oS to John Carey's
inn, remained for a whole fortnight
there in a state of savage drunkenness.

In the meantime Miss Power arrived
and took up her residence at the Castle,
and she had hardly been twenty-four
there when the story of the dispossessed
heir was related to her. It aroused all
her womanly pity, and her immedi-
ate thought was, "How can I make
amends ?"

She waited for a little time, thinking
that her cousin might call. He made
no sign.

She ordered her horse and rode over
to the inn where he had taken up his
quarters, thinking perhaps to get a

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

glimpse of him. He heard of her com-
ing, and kept out of the way.

Then she sent him a petit moty which
was carried bj her groom.

"My dear Cousin, — ^I should very

much like to shake hands with you, if

you have no objection. Will you come

and take lunch with me some day soon ?

" Tours very truly,

"Catherine Power."

The young man tore up the letter.

The next day he was in Castlebar,
where he had a long talk with Peter
Linnie. That worthy gave him very
sensible advice, pointing out to him
that in all possibility he was missing a
great chance. Why shouldn't he cap-
ture the heiress and her money by
honourable marriage, and so make odd
things even ?

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE,

** She's a handsome woman," said
the lawyer, " and all the men are after
her. Spake up to her like a gentle-
man, and I'll lay odds on she'll have
you."

The result of this advice was that
Blake dressed himself in his best,
stuck a flower in his coat, mounted his
horse, and rode off to Castle Craig.
Thus smartened up, he was a strap-
ping young fellow, handsome enough
to catch any woman's eye.

He was shown up into the drawing-
room, where he waited scowling and
trembling, for he was not much used to
fine society. A few minutes later, a
beautiful young woman, with a smile
like May morning, entered and made
him welcome, greeting him like an old
friend. Being in her heart very sorry
for him, she was full of sympathy and
effusion, and he went away strongly

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

convinced that she would be an easy
conquest.

For a little time after that, Blake
was a constant visitor at the Castle,
and being of good family he had no
diflBiculty in getting invitations to other
county houses where Catherine was a
frequent guest. He neglected his wild
companions, paid strict attention to his
wardrobe, and altogether seemed a re-
formed character. His cousin gave
him every encouragement. He rode
with her, danced with her, and was
constantly near her.

" She's yours for the asking," said
Peter Linnie, when the squireen re-
ported progress.

Blake himself was not so sure. He
had many rivals, some young like him-
self, others of maturer age and ampler
fortune, and Catherine was civil to
them all. The man he thought most
73

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTURE.

dangerous was Philip Langford, who
was certainly a great favourite with his
cousin.

He had almost forgotten the money
prize, in the personal fascination of
the heiress. Her bold, frank manners,
just touched with feminine tenderness,
made havoc with his impetuous heart.
He was tormented with jealousy when-
ever another man approached her, and
Catherine, being a very woman, loved
to fan the flame.

At last, one day, when they were
riding side by side through the woods,
he spoke out.

"I've been thinking, Kate," he be-
gan.

"Indeed, cousin?" said Catherine,
smiling. "Isn't that something un-
usual ?"

" Tve been thinking that this sort of
nonsense can't go on forever. You

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

waltzed with that fellow Langford five
times last night, and only gave me two
square dances."

" Mr. Langford waltzes beautifiiUy !"
exclaimed Catherine.

" him !" muttered Blake, flush-
ing crimson, and scowling.

*'K you use language like that, I
shall gallop off and leave you," said
the lady, urging her horse to a trot,
but her companion, reaching out his
hand, seized her bridle, and brought
her horse to a dead halt.

"Stop, I must speak to you," he
cried. " It's been on my mind for a long
time to tell you how much I love you.
I do — ^you must have seen it. Now I'm
your cousin, and all this place should
have been mine, but that's all over now,
Kate, and you're welcome to it all.
It's you I want, and not the money,

and if you'll have me, Kate "

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

** So this is a proposal ?" cried Cathe-
rine. " You mean, I suppose, that you
want me to marry you ?'*

Blake replied by leaning from his
saddle, and trying to take her in his
arms. But she drew herself up, and
waved him back.

" Cousin," she said, " I want you to
do me a great favour."

"Welir

" Never speak of this again. If you
do, we shall cease to be friends."

"You don't mean that?" he cried,
angrily.

" I do mean it. There are two rea-
sons, either of which should be suf-
ficient. First reason, we are cousins,
and I don't believe in the marriage of
near relations; second reason, I like
you very well as a relation, but should
find you intolerable as a husband. I
hope Pm not hurting your feelings,

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

but in a case like this it's better to be
quite frank.'*

He released his hold on her bridle,
and she trotted on, leaving him trans-
fixed. When she had gone about a
hundred yards, she paused and beck-
oned. He remained stationary. She
trotted back to him.

" Come, cousin,'* she said, brightly,
" let's shake hands and end the matter
for ever. Surely we can still be
friends?"

He waved her hand aside, and
glared at her with blood-shot eyes.
His face was livid, and his mouth
worked convulsively.

" If I don't have you, no other man
shall !" he said.

" What nonsense !"

" It isn't nonsense. I mean what I
say."

*'Then you are very impertinent,"
77

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

returned the beauty, with a toss of the
head, " and you had better go back to
Mary Carey !'*

With this parting shot, she rode
away for the second time, and never
looked back till she disappeared.

Mad and furious, Blake again re-
sorted to his adviser, Peter Linnie.

"It's as plain as a barn-door!" said
that luminary. " She has heard about
Carey's daughter, and she's jealous,
that's all. It's a good sign that, not a
bad one. You must stick to her like
her shadow, and give her a hint that
ye don't care a brass farthing for any-
body but herself. Never say die, my
boy, and you'll win her yet."

The young man acted on the advice
so given. Instead of sulking and fly-
ing to drink as he had at first felt in-
clined to do, he turned up again as if
nothing had occurred. Catherine re-

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

ceived him in the same manner, and
the breach seemed entirely healed.

A few days later, as they stood
together one morning, in front of the
Castle, Blake said, quietly —

" You said something to me t'other
day about Mary Carey. I hope you
don't believe that scandal V*

She looked him quietly in the face,
but made no reply.

"Because," he continued, "because
if you do believe it "

"Hush! There is Mr. Langford,"
she exclaimed, interrupting him, as
Mr. Langford came strolling across the
lawn.

The two men lunched with her tl
day, and we fear she played one c
against the other.

They were a curious contrast — ^Blal
handsome, sullen, and savage, like
good-looking cub only half-tamed t

>y Google k

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE,

good behaviour; Langford, with his
calm, clear-cut face, his courteous
smile, and his dark passionate eyes.
When Catherine looked at the former,
her expression was merry, kind, and
almost material ; when she turned her
eyes on Langford the expression grew
grave and dreamy.

Langford was the first to leave.
When he had gone, Blake, who had
taken rather too much wine, snarled
savagely :

"I hate that fellow! He's as fly
as a fox, and as cold-blooded as a
stoat!"

" He is my very good friend," said
Catherine, " and I must ask you not to
abuse him."

" You mean your sweetheart !" cried
Blake, forgetting himself in his fury
of jealousy.

" I mean nothing of the kind, but,

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

even if it were so, it would be no con-
cern of yours."

" Wouldn't it, by !" exclaimed

the young man, utterly losing his self-
control. "Remember what I told
you."

Pale with indignation, Catherine
prepared to leave the room, but before
she could do so, Blake sprang up and
closed the door.

"Once more I ask you, will you
marry me?" he cried, facing her.

She looked him from head to foot
with a gaze so cool, so contemptuous,
that the hot blood mounted to his face.
Then, without replying, she quietly
touched the bell.

He came close to her, and seized her
two hands in his.

"Kate!"

She tried to release herself, but he
held her firmly, looking into her face.
6 81

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"Don't wake up the devil in me!
Don't make me do what I might be
Borry for ! You Ve robbed me of my
birthright— don't go further, and make
me mad. As sure as you stand there,
I mean to have you, and if I can't win
you by fair means I'll try foul."

"You are not sober," she replied,
haughtily, " and you talk to me as if I
were the girl of some low inn."

Then releasing herself, as the serv-
ant entered the room, she said quietly —

" Tell the groom to bring round Mr.
Blake's horse at once !"

The servant disappeared, while Blake
stood like a man dazed, as indeed he
was. "Without looking towards him,
Catherine sat down at the piano and be-
gan to play — ^lightly, carelessly, letting
her fingers wander idly across the keys.

When she looked round, Blake had
disappeared.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

A week passed, and there was no
sign of him ; a second week, and still
no sign. She began to feel sorry, for,
though her heart was quite untouched,
she couldn't help admitting to herself
that she was partly to blame.

Then came the mysterious assault in
the woods, which we have already de-
scribed, and Catherine's visit to Cla-
dich Castle under escort of the police.

The moment she looked at her
cousin, Catherine had no doubt what-
ever that she had discovered her assail-
ant. Up to that moment, she had
scarcely thought it possible that even
Patrick Blake should have been guilty
of such a bitise.

Recovering herself in a moment, and
forcing a smile, she said —

" Why haven't you been to see me ?
I have been expecting you every day."

The young man's face was a study.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Shame, confasion, and a reckless au-
dacity were all mingled there. He
saw in a moment that his secret was
discovered, but he did not seem to
care. Answering the smile with one
of ugly significance, and glancing at
Langford, he replied —

" I thought, maybe, you might have
pleasanter company," and then, with a
forced laugh and a shrug of the shoul-
ders, he strolled away into the ball-
room.

The moment he had gone, Cath-
erine's self-possession lefb her. She
trembled and seemed about to fall,
when Langford stepped forward with
an exclamation and supported her.

" What is it?" he cried, tenderly.

" Nothing, nothing," she murmured.

" That ruffian has insulted you !"

"Indeed, no," she said, gently.
"For whatever has occurred, I am
84

>y Google

A MAREIAGE BY CAPTURE

myself most to blame. But I am miser-
able, miserable ! I wished to be friends
with all the world, and I awaken only
hatred in all I meet."

" Catherine," said Langford, " there
is but one way out of all your per-
plexity. I have told it before — let me
repeat it now. I love you! I have
loved you from the moment we first
met ! Become my wife !"

His arm still encircled her waist,
and he drew her tenderly towards him.
At first she seemed to yield, but it was
only for a moment. Disengaging her-
self, she said quietly —

"I shall never marry. I love my
liberty too well, and, indeed, all that I
have seen of men makes me more and
more afraid. You say you love me.
Others have said the same thing. It
is friendship, true friendship, that I
need, not love."

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

In a moment her high spirits came
back to her, and she added with a
laugh —

" What a dreadful thing it is to be
a woman, especially in Ireland, where
men are only half civilised! Pray,
take me back to the ball-room."

For several hours after she had gone
to bed that night, Catherine lay awake
thinking of Patrick Blake: when at
length she fell asleep she dreamed of
him, and in the morning when she
awoke her brain was ringing with the
echo of his threat : " If you won't have
me, you shall never have any other
man !"

The singularity of his manner puz-
zled her, so did the strange coincidence
of the mark upon his cheek. That she
herself had been the means of placing it
there she did not for a moment doubt,
and yet it certainly seemed very strange.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE,

" After all," she said to herself, " I
am glad I have made no one but Cap-
tain Kennedy acquainted with the fact
of my having struck the man. That
part of the story I will continue to
keep to myself.''

She walked over to the window, and
looked out. The country for miles
around lay buried deep in snowdrift.
The little hamlets, with closed doors
and windows and snow-laden roofs,
lay like black spots on the vast waste
of white.

Scarcely a soul was to be seen abroad,
for already walking was dangerous, and
still the snow was falling fast.

" I shall not be able to leave the house
to-day," said Catherine to herself, and
at the thought she did not feel alto-
gether sorry. The idea of walking
abroad in daylight, escorted by armed
police, was by no means pleasant to her.

>y Google

A MARBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

For a whole week, therefore, she re-
mained a prisoner : at the end of that
time a rapid thaw set in. The snow
dissolved and disappeared, leaving to
the view a stretch of black bog land,
dotted with dripping thatched cabins,
and oozy with the recent fallen rain.

Panting, after her long confinement,
for a breath of fresh air, Catherine put
on her hat and cloak one evening, and
walked in the shrubberies surrounding
the Castle. The boughs of the trees
were dripping, and the ground was
spongy, but the air revived her, and
strengthened the courage which the
week of quietness had brought. It
made her form a resolution to walk
daily in the grounds until such time as
she could shake off the shackles of the
police and drive abroad alone.

One evening, about a fortnight from
the time when this resolution was

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

formed, she left the house to take her
customary walk in the grounds. It was
not late, but the days were short, and
as she left the house she saw that a star
was already glimmering beyond the
peak of a distant hill ; and that night
was beginning to fall. The sky was of
a bluish grey, flecked here and there
with floating mist which settled in little
clouds upon the hilltops, and the wind
which touched her cheek was like an
icy hand.

The police patrolling before the
house saluted as she passed by, and
watched her disappear amongst the
trees of the park.

She had walked for about ten min-
utes, choosing a narrow pathway, and
was about to turn into an aven"'^ ^^
beech trees, when there was a ri
and scuflling among the boughs,
started. A man whose face was a

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

from her was emerging from the dense
brushwood, through which she had
first passed.

" Why, he has no right to be here,"
thought Catherine; then she asked —
" What are you doing here ? this part
of the park is quite private. If you
want the house, it lies in that direc-
tion, and that is the pathway to the
road."

Thus addressed, the man half turned
towards her, touched his hat, and
moved on, in the direction of the
Castle.

Catherine moved on, too, pacing the
long beech avenue with erect head and
springing step. About a quarter of an
hour later, however, she was again star-
tled : again the trees rustled, and sud-
denly she saw a man, wearing a crape
mask, cautiously creep from the cop-
pice.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

This time, before she could speak,
he leaped into the avenue and seized
her round the waist.

So petrified was she by this sudden
attack, that for a moment she could
neither move nor cry, but when she
felt herself being lifted from the
ground and carried towards the woods,
her power returned, she uttered a
piercing shriek, and by a mighty eftbrt
tore herself from the assailant's grasp,
and ran towards the Castle.

Immediately rattles were sprung,
voices shouted, whistles shrieked, and
lights flickered in the distance. But
the alarm, great as it was, seemed to
have no effect upon the ruffian. He
raised his shrieking victim from the
ground, put his hand over her mouth
and dragged her away. With tiger-
like force she tore the hand away and
shrieked.

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" Help ! help ! will no one come V^

She tore, fought, struggled, and
screamed until all her strength seemed
ebbing from her. Presently the low
murmur of voices reached her ear, she
uttered a wild, wailing sob, and swooned
away.

" Musha, deal gently with her — see,
thanks be to God, she's coming round.
A little more water, Pat Monnaghan.
Och, my curse, and the curses o' all
good men on the villain that's doin'
this!"

It was Catherine's favourite old
groom who spoke, as he leaned trem-
blingly over the form of his mistress,
who lay half swooning, her head rest-
ing on the heart of a man. The old
man held a lantern, the light of which
was shed upon Catherine's face.

For some time that face had been
white and cold, but now the blue lips

>y Google

' Help I help ! will no one come ?"

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

had turned to a delicate pink, the eye-
lids quivered, then unclosed.

"Stand back!*' said a voice she
knew. " She's all right now/'

She looked up and met the tender
eyes of Mr. Langford.

" What has happened ?" she asked,
tremblingly.

"I was coming along the avenue,
when I heard a call for help. I ran
forward, and saw you struggling with
a masked man. The moment I ap-
peared the ruffian vanished. He was
not alone — ^there were others with him,
I'm sure."

" My men are searching the place,"
said the sergeant of police. " If the
rascals are in the woods, we'll catch
them !" •

All Catherine's courage .seemed to
have failed her. She dropped her head,
tears blinded her eyes, and, putting

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

her hand on Langford's arm, she said,
faintly —

" Take me home !"

Gently and tenderly he led her back
to the Castle. Meantime the police
searched far and wide, but found no
trace whatever of her assailants.

>y Google

CHAPTER V.

r I iHE commotion which followed this
-^ second assault was tremendous.
For days Castle Craig was besieged
with visitors, but Catherine kept to
her room and would see no one. The
newspaper representatives picked up
scraps of news and related their story
in their own style. Large placards
were posted over the district oifering a
reward to any person who should be
instrumental in bringing the offender
to justice. Upon the strength of this
several spurious arrests were made and
ultimately dismissed, but no good was
done. When this excitement was at
95

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

its height Father John O'Donnell, the
parish priest of Mulrany, came over to
the Castle.

He was at once admitted.

It was seven o'clock in the evening,
and Catherine was going through the
form of eating her dinner. It was but
a form. She sat like a drooping lily,
toying with her knife and fork, but
utterly unable to taste one of the many
tempting dishes which were being set
before her. When the priest entered
the room she rose and held forth both
her hands.

" Oh, Father John, I am so glad you
have come!" she said, and then she
sank into her chair again and burst
into tears.

The priest was rather taken aback;
he could not bear to see a woman cry.
He patted her head aa if she had been
a child, and said —

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" My dear Miss Power, where is all
your spirit, my child ?"

" Oh, I have none," returned Cath-
erine, drying her tears and flushing
crimson, as if ashamed of her own
weakness. " They have taken that all
out of me. I would rather be a beggar
than lead a life like this."

The priest looked at her keenly.

" You would change your mind, my
child, if you found that your fortune
was really gone."

" Nay, Father ! Say rather I should
live to bless the lips which have told
me the good news. What happiness
has money brought to me ? Before I
came here I was allowed to live in
peace, I could accept friendship when
it was oifered to me, I could believe in
disinterested love. Since I became an
heiress— only eighteen months ago— I
have been the victim of two personal

7 97

>y Google —

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

assaults, I have had to listen to fulsome
professions of love when I have known
that the words have been prompted
only by a greed of gain. The heiress,
not Catherine Power, has been fSted
all round. I cannot even rest in bed
unless policemen guard my doors.
Oh, Father John, can you not believe,
do you not see, that the poorest peasant
on my estate is happier than I am."

During the delivery of this speech
the priest had watched the girl keenly.
When she paused, with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes, he looked more in-
tently into her face, and said quietly —

"I've spoken to the blackguard
who's at the bottom of all this, and
I don't think he'll trouble you any
more."

" What do you mean ?" asked Cathe-
rine, opening her eyes.

"I mean your rapscallion of a

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

cousin, Patrick Blake," replied the
priest. " I've suspected him all along.
So I drove over to him last night and
gave him a bit of my mind. He was
for denying everything at first, but at
last I got it out of him."

"He confessed?"

"He did much the same thing,"
replied the priest. "He cursed and
swore till I put the Church's anathema
on him and told him Fd make the
county too hot to hold him or Mary Ca-
rey. And before I left he gave me his
word never to molest ye again, and to
make Mary Carey an honest woman."

The worthy father omitted to state
one thing; that his chiefly ally in
bringing the young ruffian to reason
was Mary Carey herself, who hated
the heiress of Craig Castle with all her
heart. The upshot was that Blake
had gone oif to Castlebar, and from

68S488A

Digitized by Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

thence to Dublin, among the dissipa-
tions of which last city he was trying
to forget his disappointment.

Catherine breathed again. Quite
certain now that Patrick Blake was
the only enemy she had to fear, she
rejoiced at his disappearance from the
neighbourhood. Some weeks after-
wards she remained under police pro-
tection, but at last, quite convinced
that the danger was over, she dismissed
her escort, and resumed her ordinary
way of life.

During all this time, Mr. Langford
had been a constant visitor. She re-
ceived him cordially, for she could not
forget that he had now a great claim
on her gratitude, since he had been in
the truest sense of the word her pre-
server. But always, when he touched
on the old theme, she was determined.

^* All that has taken place," she said,

100

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

" only makes me more and more re-
solved not to change my condition.
When the men quite realise that I
mean to remain an old maid, they will
let me severely alone.'*

"Why do you class all men
together?" asked Langford, sadly.
"Was there ever a love like mine?"

" I don't know," answered the lady,
thoughtfully. " My cousin must have
cared for me very much, or he would
never have acted so desperately. Poor
fellow!"

Langford's dark eyes flashed angrily.

" You pity that scoundrel ?"

" Of course I pity him. Really he
has paid me the greatest compli-
ment possible — he thought me worth
taking by storm. After all," she con-
tinued, roguishly, "there was some,
thing charming in the old days, when
marriage by capture was the fashion,
101

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

and the strongest man won. Speak-
ing for myself, I don't think I should
ever surrender to any man, unless he
made me I'*

"You are a puzzle, Catherine, like
all women/'

"I suppose I am. I wonder, now,
what would have happened if my
savage cousin had really carried me
away ? I suspect I should have had to
make the best of a bad bargain. But
there, we live in the nineteenth cen-
tury, and although it's in Ireland,
there's very little romance left?"

"And you will not become my wife ?"

"No, thank you," she replied,
smiling, "though, indeed, I like you
very much."

A few days later Captain Kennedy
called at the Castle.

"Young Blake has returned from
Dublin," he said. "I thought it as
102

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

well to let you know, in case you'd like
to have police protection again."

Miss Power declined.

" I think there is no necessity. My
cousin has come to his senses."

The next day she drove in her car-
riage past Carey's inn. Patrick Blake
stood on the bank of the river fishing,
and, bowing as she passed, took oif his
cap with a polite grin !

" It's all right," she reflected. '' My
savage is quite cured !"

In this, possibly, she made a miscal-
culation. Two days later occurred the
extraordinary catastrophe described in
the opening of our story. The victim
of her own foolhardiness, Miss Power
disappeared, with the strongest suspi-
cion of foul play; and before another
night had passed, her cousin, Patrick
Blake, was a prisoner in the hands of
the police.

108

>y Google

CHAPTER VI.

fTHHE arrest of Patrick Blake caused
-*- no little commotion in the dis-
trict, where, in spite of his wild habits,
and more probably on account of them,
he was a general favourite. The Irish
heart instinctively sympathises, in and
out of season, with a scapegrace, espe-
cially if he is ousted from a possession
or an inheritance, and the young man
was a lawful heir, from the popular
point of view, of Craig Castle and the
contingent estates.

But the arrest having been made, the
authorities were still placed between
the horns of a dilemma.
104

>y Google

A MAKKIAGE BY CAPTUBB.

There was no absolute proof that a
serious crime had been committed — no
absolute proof that Miss Power was
either living or dead. To establish a
charge of murder it was absolutely
necessary to show that some one had
been murdered, and how was it possi-
ble to do that, under the circumstances ?

Brought up before the magistrates
at Newport, Patrick Blake was charged
" on suspicion" of having abducted and
made away with Miss Catherine Power
of Craig Castle, and with having, on a
former occasion, oflfered her personal
violence.

Peter Linnie, who appeared for the
prisoner, laughed the charge to scorn.
It was absurd, he said, to connect his
client with the crime, which had never
in all probability been committed, and
of which, at any rate, there was no
proof whatever. As to the second

106

>y Google

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTUEB.

count, it was even more ridiculous,
seeing that Blake and his cousin,
shortly after he was supposed to have
oflfered her personal violence, were on
excellent terms.

Captain Kennedy proved, however,
that the missing lady had gone about
in bodily fear of her cousin, and had
asked for police protection. He also
produced the cloak and blood-stained
handkerchief which had been found
near the spot of the assault, and they
were identified as the property of Miss
Power.

The car-driver, Feeny, testified to
the assault itself on the momentous
evening, but, cross-examined by Linnie,
he was unable to swear positively as to
the number or appearance of the as-
sailants. Immediately on their reap-
pearance he had been knocked down
atid rendered insensible ; on his recov-
106

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

ery he had distinctly heard his mis-
tress's voice screaming for help some
distance away ; and, instead of hasten-
ing to her assistance, he had driven off
to give the alarm to the police.

Among the witnesses called was Mr.
Langford, who seemed greatly annoyed
and grieved at being questioned at all.

Asked if Miss Power had ever ex-
pressed fear of her cousin, or had iden-
tified him as the author of the first
attack, he answered with some reluc-
tance in the affirmative. His evidence,
however, seemed of very little im-
portance until Peter Linnie rose to
cross-examine him.

"Come now, Mr. Langford, speak
the truth like an honest man, and re-
member, if you please, that you are on
your oath."

" I am not likely to forget it," an-
swered Langford, sadly.

107

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"I hope not, sir. You say you
were an intimate acquaintance of Miss
Power?"

"Iwaa."

" You knew she was a fairly wealthy
lady?"

"Certainly."

" And you yourself were a very poor
man?"

" ITot a rich man, at any rate."

" ITot a rich man, at any rate. So it
came into your head, maybe, that it
might be a good thing if you could per-
suade her to share her wealth with you ?"

Langford's eyes flashed angrily.

" I certainly did ask her to become
my wife," he replied.

"Did she consent?"

" ITo," she refused.

" Once, or more than once ?"

" More than once."

" And you were aware at that time
108

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

that there was another Richmond in
the field ? That her cousin, Mr. Blake,
had proposed to her ?"

" No."

" ITo ? Come now, didn't you know
it?"

" I thought it was possible, but I had
no actual knowledge of the fact."

"That will do for me. You knew
then that you had a rival, and that the
more you could discredit him, the bet-
ter your own chance might be."

"I never gave him the slightest
thought or consideration."

" But after Miss Power disappeared,
you went to the police barracks and
gave certain information ?"

"I went there merely to make in-
quiries, for I was very anxious."

*^Aha! but you suggested or in-
sinuated that your rival, Mr. Blake,
might be the guilty person ?"

109

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" Nothing of the kind. It was sug-
gested to me that he might be guilty,
but I could not believe it."

" But you believe it now V*

The reply was remarkable.

"Ifo! I do not believe it!"

Even Peter Linnie was astonished.
He sat down triumphant, and then
rose to call his own witnesses.

John Carey and Michael Conolly
swore positively that on the afternoon
and evening of the 7th of January
the prisoner was in their company,
and that he could not possibly have
been concerned in an attack which
took place many miles away. Then
Mary Carey entered the box and gave
evidence to the same effect.

Cross-examined, a little injudiciously,
as to her own personal relations with
the prisoner, she admitted that she
was deeply attached to him, and

110

>y Google

ft
A MARBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

that he was certainly in her soci-
ety.

"Did you ever hear him speak about
his cousin ?"

"I did then, often."

" Did he ever threaten to do her an
injury?"

" ITot he, sir. But he often said that
she'd done him the biggest injury of
all by robbing him of his inheri-
tance."

" I see. And he was very bitter in
consequence ?"

" I don't know about that."

"Were you aware that he had
offered to marry her, and had been
shown the door ?"

"I wasn't.?'

" Didn't he tell you as much ?"

" Sorra word. All he said once was
that there was a gentleman aft.er her
named Langford, and that Langford
111

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

hated him^ and meant to do him a bad
turn."

Every one looked at Langford, who
was white as death.

" Do you know — ^remember you are
on your solemn oath— do you know
anything either from first knowledge
or hearsay of what has become of the
young lady ?"

"Ifo."

" Did you not, on a recent occasion,
inform the inspector of constabulary
that if he was able to drag the deep
sea he might find her ?'*

"I did," replied Mary, with a
smile.

"How came you to make use of
that expression ?"

" Sure, they told me she wasn't to be
found on land, so I thought if she
wasn't anywhere on land, she must
be somewhere in the water !"

112

>y Google

A MARBIAOE BT OAPTUBE.

The questioner sat down, and Peter
Linnie rose.

"I'll only ask you one question,
Mary Carey. Did Mr. Blake ever in
your hearing threaten to harm his
cousin ?"

** Never, sir."

" You adhere to that statement?'*

" I do, sir," replied Mary, and she
stood down after exchanging a rapid
look with Blake.

The magistrates were puzzled. Not
that they attached any serious im-
portance to the evidence for the de-
fence ; in that part of Ireland perjury
is so common among the lower classes
that it is frequently the custom not to
swear certain witnesses at all, and the
impression in this case was that, if
Blake was guilty, the persons brought
forward to prove an alibi were simply
his confederates. But in point of fact

8 113

>y Google

A MAREIAGB BY CAPTUBE.

there was no real evidence whatever
against the prisoner, and the magis-
.trates were at a loss what to do in the
matter.

At this point, Captain Kennedy
asked for a remand, stating that by in-
formation in his possession, but as yet
incomplete, he hoped in a week's time
to bring forward satisfactory evidence
of the prisoner's guilt. While the
magistrates were still hesitating and
consulting how to proceed, a man en-
tered the court and handed a letter to
Mr. Langford.

"We have decided to remand the
prisoner for a week," said the presiding
magistrate, " but we will accept mod-
erate bail for his appearance."

Then an extraordinary incident oc-
curred.

Still very pale, and now greatly ex-
cited, Mr. Langford rose up, holding in
114

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

his hand the letter which he had just
received.

"One moment, if you please/' he
said. " I must ask you to discharge
the prisoner at once. I hold in my
hand the proof of his complete inno-
cence.'*

A murmur of amazement went round
the room.

" The proof? What proof?" asked
the magistrate.

"A letter from the person chiefly
concerned."

"Of whom are you speaking?"

" Of Miss Catherine Power."

The murmur grew to a roar.

" Miss Power," proceeded Langford,
" is alive and perfectly well, and it is
her wish that Mr. Blake should be at
once set at liberty."

He handed up the letter, which ran
as follows : —

116

>y Google

A MARKTAGE BT CAPTUKE.

To Mb. Langfobd.

" Oblige me by informing the mag-
istrates at If ewport that I am safe at
home in Craig Castle, and that the in-
quiry into my fate need go no further.
Bequest them to release my cousin
from custody without an instant's de-
lay. I have no charge to make against
any one whatever.

"Catherine Power."

The news came like a thunder-clap
on all concerned. " Parturiunt montes
et nascitur ridiculus mus." Instead
of lying dead in some unknown spot
at the bottom of the sea, the missing
heiress, after an absence of four days
and nights, was seated quietly at home.
There could be no doubt about it — ^the
letter was in her handwriting. Strang-
est of all, she offered no explanation

116

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

of what had occurred, and proffered
no accusation.

As the news was proclaimed, another
look of rapid intelligence passed be-
tween Patrick Blake and Mary Carey.
Then Father O'Donnell, who was pres-
ent, waved his arms in the air with a
wild cheer, which was taken up by the
crowd of spectators.

As Blake walked from the court
accompanied by his friends, he passed
close to Langford, who stood like a
man dazed and overwhelmed. Their
eyes met, and Blake said between his
set teeth :

" Don't forget what I promised you.
I mean to keep my word."

And as Langford shrugged his
shoulders and turned wearily away,
Blake added to Mary Carey :

"I'll be even with him for having
me arrested like a dog."
117

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Fast as his horse could trot, Father
O'Donnell hastened to the Castle, and
Captain Kennedy sat beside him on the
car.

"Powers above, it's a miracle!"
ejaculated the priest, joyfully. " She
alive after all, God bless her, and me
that was firetting my heart out for her
as if she was my own flesh and blood.''

"But what can have happened to
her ?" cried Kennedy ; " we haven't got
to the bottom of the mystery yet."

On arriving at the Castle, they found
that the news was perfectly true.
Early that forenoon, the mistress of
the house had quietly returned home
on foot, as if nothing unusual had oc-
curred. She seemed a little fatigued,
that was all, and went at once to her
own room, whence, shortly afterwards,
she despatched the messenger to Lang-
ford.

118

>y Google

A MARBIAGE BY CAPTUBE*

They were shown up into her
boudoir; they found Catherine seated,
dressed in a loose morning wrapper,
and with her beautiful hair flowing
loose over her shoulders* She looked
pale and worn, with dark rings of
fatigue round her eyes, but held out
her hand to them with a smile.

Tears of joy rolled down the good
priest's face, as he sank on his knees
beside her, and offered up his thanks
to God for her preservation. Then the
fervour of the priest gave way to the
curiosity of the man.

" And now, my child, tell us all about
it ! What has happened, acushla ma-
chree?"

"Unfortunately, I can tell you
nothing," she replied, gently. "All
my wish now is to forget what has hap-
pened. It is over — ^let it be forgotten.''

" But, my dear child "

119

>y Google

A MABBIAQE BY CAPTUBE*

<* My cousin is at liberty, I hope ?"
fihe said, addressing Captain Ken-
nedy.

" Yes, miss," was the reply. ** They
released him at once on the arrival of
your letter."

"I am glad of that. The aflGstir,
then, will go no further ?"

" It can't, miss, unless you yourself
take action."

** I shall not do so," said Catherine,
with a sigh.

Sorely puzzled, Captain Kennedy
took his leave. He had still no doubt
whatever that Blake, in some myste-
rious way, was concerned in Cather-
ine's disappearance, and he was quite
at a loss to understand her apathy in
the matter.

Father O'Donnell remained alone
with Catherine. They talked together
quietly for some time, and then, her

120

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

beautiful eyes fiiU of tears and her
voice choking, Catherine said —

" What I wouldn't tell to my dearest
friend I wish now to confess to my
priest;" and she knelt before him and
made confession.

As she proceeded his astonishment
increased, and when she had finished
he was pale as a ghost with mingled
wonder and indignation. Had a thun-
derbolt fallen at his feet, he could not
have been more amazed.

121

>y Google

CHAPTER VIL

■p ATRICK BLAKE was the hero of
-*- the hour. He had a kind of royal
progress on his way back to Carey's
inn, where he had arranged to resume
his quarters, and wherever he went the
peasantry cheered him to the echo.
He had performed that finest of all
feats in the eyes of the Irish populace,
he had been one too many for the
police.

But amid all his exultation, he was
furious : furious that he, a gentleman,
had been arrested and cast in durance
vile like a common felon, furious with

122

>y Google

A MAEEIAOE BY CAPTUEE.

the examination which had exposed
his relations with Mary Carey, and
furious above all with Langford, whom
he persisted in regarding as the prime
mover in the whole affair.

He flew to his usual remedy, the
whisky bottle, for consolation. For
several nights he never went sober to
bed, and, indeed, he never went to bed
at all — ^till he was carried.

On the fourth day after his libera-
tion, as he sat moodily outside the inn
with no other company than his own
thoughts, he was astonished by an ap-
parition. A car drawn by two hand-
some chestnuts drove up, and de-
posited the fair form of Miss Catherine
Power.

" I am glad I have found you," she
said quietly; "I wish particularly to
talk to you."

He rose with a curious look, some-

123

>y Google

A MARMAGE BY CAPTUEE.

thing between a smile and a scowl, and
replied —

" As you please. Shall we talk here,
or will you go inside ?"

" Is any one there?"

" Only Mary Carey/'

"Then we'll talk outside. Come
with me to the river bank."

They crossed the road together, and
remained some time in earnest conver-
sation, out of earshot of the driver of
the car. As the conversation pro-
ceeded, Blake seemed to be speaking
angrily and fiercely, while Catherine
pleaded to him in dumb show.

At last they returned. Blake's pale
face looked bright and triumphant,
while Catherine's was blotted with
teats. He assisted her on to the car,
and raised his hat with a grin.

"Then it is a bargain?" she said,
anxiously. " I have your promise ?"

124

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

"Oh, yes," he answered, "mum's
the word, cousin. Keep your promise,
and I'll keep mine I"

He stood with his hands in his
pockets, whistling and laughing as he
watched the car driven rapidly away.
The sound of a footstep made him
turn, and he encountered the eyes of
Mary Carey. The girl's face was pale
with passion, and her voice trembled
as she said :

" I saw ye together. What brought
her over here ?"

"What do you think?" said Blake,
laughing.

" I don't know and I don't care, but
she'd better mind what she's after,
if she comes again between you and
me. I've had enough of that !"

" You're a fool, Mary."

" I'm no fool, neither. I know what
I'm talking about."

125

>y Google

A MABRIAOE BY CAPTURE.

"She's come to her senses, that's
all," said the young man, shrugging
his shoulders ; " she's afraid."

" Maybe she's reason."

"True for you. . . . She's going
away to Dublin, she says."

"The devil go after her and stay
along wid her."

**Stop a bit and whisper. This is
what she wants."

And he whispered rapidly in the
girl's ear.

"You don't mane that!" she cried.

" I do though."

" And what did you say ?"

** I said I'd take the money and hold
my tongue !"

"What would Mr. Langford say if
he knew? Would he marry her after
all?"

"Maybe he would!" said Blake,
with a savage oath, " but I'll take care

126

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

he never does. If she's too good for
me in spite of all, she's too good for
him, the omadhaun. I promised to
let her alone, but I said nothing about

him/'

So saying he strode back to the inn,
and, seizing a bottle, poured himself
out a glass of raw spirits.

"Here's her health," he cried.
" May she live long and prosper ! She
has more sense than I gave her credit
for!"

News of Catherine's visit to his rival
was wafted in due course to Philip
Langford ; indeed he could not fail to
hear it, since it was a very common
topic of conversation. Wiseacres, in-
cluding Captain Kennedy, shook their
heads over it; it corroborated their
original suspicions, that there was
some mysterious connection between
the lady of the Castle and her savage

127

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTURE.

kinsman^ whom she was now anxious
to keep silent.

Langford said nothing, but grew the
very incarnation of silent despair. He
had good reason to be miserable, for
on two occasions, when he had called
at the Castle, the lady had declined to
see him. He wrote to her in passion-
ate terms begging an interview; she
replied very briefly to the effect that
she had determined to see no one ex-
cept the priest.

Father O'Donnell, the only person
who was in her confidence, was very
angry indeed when he heard of her
visit to Blake. He told her flatly that
it was an act of folly.

** Everybody is talking of it, my
child, and coupling your names to-
gether."

"What does it matter?" she ex-
claimed.

128

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTTJEE.

"But your reputation is concerned !"

**I am quite indiflferent on the sub-
ject."

"Saints above!" cried the worthy-
father. " Do you know what they are
saying, that you have bribed Patrick
Blake to hold his tongue ! My child,
there is only one course open to you,
to tell the whole truth and punish the
villain who has done you such shame-
ful wrong !"

"I will never do that!" she an*
swered, sobbing.

"Let me speak! Let me confront
the scoundrel! Release me of my
oath and let me punish him as he de-
serves."

"He is punished enough already,"
was the reply.

" Punished ? He is a free man when
he should be lying in the gaol at Cas-
tlebar."

9 129

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" Sin, especially sin like his, is its own
punishment," said Catherine. "May
God forgive him !'^

Arguments and remonstrances were
useless; she was resolved on keeping
her own counsel.

"But I have done one thing, dear
Father," she said, finally; "I have
spent the dreary hours here in writing
down, over my own signature, the
whole story which I have whispered to
you in confession. It may be necessary
some day to produce it, to vindicate
my reputation from evil tongues. That
task I leave to you, should anythmg
happen to me, but so long as I live I
shall need and require no vindication."

She took from her escritoire a small
manuscript book, and placed it in the
priest's hands.

" While I was writing it down," she
continued, "it all seemed a strange

130

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

dream — ^horrible, unreal — and even now
it scarcely seems to have happened.
And now my mind is made up. I am
going, for a time at least, to leave this
place. I have friends in Dublin with
whom I shall be safe and happy — as
happy as I can ever be. You will see
me there from time to time, will you
not, and bring me any news ? In the
meantime, I know my secret is safe in
your keeping."

The good priest gave her his blessing
and departed, taking with him the
manuscript which she had written.

Next day all was commotion at Craig
Castle, for its mistress was preparing to
go away. She spent the morning in
arranging domestic affairs, and dismiss-
ing, with a liberal bonus, the chief
members of her establishment. The
Castle was to remain under the charge
of her housekeeper and one or two

181

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

servants, and the coachman and one
groom she retained to look after the
stables. By the afternoon all prepara-
tions were completed, Catherine's heavy
luggage despatched by car to Westport,
and arrangements made for Catherine
herself and her maid to be driven
early next morning to the railway sta-
tion of the same town.

She had just dined in solitary state,
when a servant brought in a letter.

" Mr. Langford's waiting at the door,
my lady. He asked me to give you
this and get your answer."

She opened the letter, and read as
follows :

"You are going away. For God's
sake let me speak to you for one mo-
ment before you go."

Pale and trembling, yet quite col-
lected, she wrote on the back of the
letter in pencil :

132

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

" I wish to see no one. If you have
any regard or respect left for me, you
will go away as you came. I am going
away, as you say, and it is my prayer
that we should never meet again."

She enclosed the letter in a fresh en-
velope, which she sealed and handed
to the servant.

"Give that to Mr. Langford," she
Baid, " and on no account let him enter
the house."

Early the next morning she left the
Castle in an open car, drawn by two
horses and driven by a new coachman,
whom she had engaged temporarily in
place of James Feeny. Only her maid
went with her, and the servants, by
whom she was adored, crowded at the
door to bid her good-bye.

" Poor lady !" said the housekeeper,
*' she's heart-broken entirely, and no
wonder."

183

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

It was a beautiful winter morning,
the sun was shining brightly, and the
grass and trees were sparkling through
silver hoar frost. Inland rose the
mountains, and southward shone the
placid waters of Clew Bay. As she
drove through the demesne to the
lodge gate, Catherine looked on the
quiet scene with silent tears. She had
grown to love the place, and her heart
ached to leave it.

"Shall I ever come back?" she
thought "God knows! Perhaps I
may find peace and comfort far away."

As they passed through the lodge
gates her heart leapt into her mouth,
and she went deadly pale. Waiting on
the high road was a man on horseback,
whom she recognised at once.

Philip Langford.

His pale sad face looked careworn
and inexpressibly sorrowful, and he

184

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTURE.

stooped in the saddle as if under the
weight of years, but when their eyes
met, his flashed eagerly, and he held out
his hand with an imploring gesture,

"Drive on!" said Catherine to the
coachman, and averted her face.

The coachman whipped his horses,
and the car passed swiftly by. Without
once looking back, Catherine clung to
the seat as if in mortal terror; then,
unable to control her agitation, she
leant back and sobbed, covering her
face with her hands.

As if turned to marble, Langford sat
watching the car until it disappeared ;
even then he remained immovable, his
face grey and livid, his eyes sunken in
utter despair. At last, with an effort,
he shook off his apathy, and rode
slowly homeward to his house by the
sea.

An old man met him on the lawn

135

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

before the door, toached his hat, and
looked wistfully up into his face,

" She has gone, yer honour !"

" Yes, Michael, and I believe she will
never come back,'' answered Langford,
alighting from his horse.

" Did yer honour spake wid her ?"

Langford shook his head, and walked
slowly and feebly, like a man death-
struck, into the house. He entered a
small sitting-room on the ground floor,
and, falling into a chair, sat with his
eyes fixed before him, looking on va-
cancy.

A face looked into the room — ^that of
an old woman.

" God bless yer honour," the woman
said, entering the door. "Have you
come back? And Miss Catherine?
Did ye spake wid her ?"

He answered her with a despairing
look of his dark eyes.

186

>y Google

A MAB&IAGE BT CAPTURE.

" She went away without a word !"
cried the old woman. " 0, wirasthrae,
wirasthrue ! And she that knew well
your heart was breaking for her sake !
May the Lord above punish her for
turning away in her pride from the
best man that ever drew breath !''

" Don't say that, Nannie/' said Lang-
ford, sadly. "Say rather with me,
may God bless her, and forgive me for
what I've done !"

• • • • •

While this scene was taking place at
Langford House, Father John O'Don-
nell was seated alone by the fireside,
in his cottage at Mulrany, smoking his
pipe, and perusing, with many doleful
shakes of the head, the manuscript
which Catherine had committed to his
care.

And it ran as follows.

137

>y Google

CHAPTER VIIL

rriHE house is quite still, every one
-*- has retired to rest, and I am sit-
ting alone in my boudoir, trying to
piece together the terrible experiences
of the last few days, and to write them
down. Even now they scarcely seem
real; they rather seem like those
flashes which haunt us when we are
suddenly awaked from strange dreams.
Lest they should fade altogether, as
dream memories do, I am going to
recall them as vividly as I can; then,
when I have committed them to paper,
I shall give the writing to the only
friend I have left, my good priest, who

188

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

loves me like a father. In his care I
know it will be sacred, but if ever oc-
casion should (which God forbid), it
may be my justification.

Before I proceed to my narrative,
however, let me frankly own to myself,
and to any one who may hereafter
read these words, that I have been
justly punished for my own frivolous-
ness and folly. Like many another
thoughtless woman, I played with fire,
little thinking that it might some day
imperil my life and honour. A young
girl, alone in the world, and with no
guide but her own caprice, cannot be
too circumspect in her relations with
the opposite sex. I, so far from being
circumspect, was foolhardy. Treated
like a spoiled child, idolised and fiat-
tered on every hand, I craved only for
sympathy and adoration, and I was
careless in awakening feelings to which

189

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

I never intended seriously to respond.
Although not at heart a coquette, I
certainly behaved like one, and I have
paid the penalty.

All that I can urge in my own de-
fence is that my position was a peculiar
one, and that I had little or no expe-
rience. Brought up in England, where
people were so much more sophisti-
cated and commonplace, I was placed
under extraordinary circumstances in
the midst of a society which was to a
great extent unconventional. My suit-
ors, gentlemen in external appearance,
had all the strong passions and preju-
dices of the half-civilised. They could
not understand mere friendship; they
mistook frankness for cordiality, and
camaraderie for love. A kind word, a
gentle look, a pressure of the hand,
was interpreted instantly into the
warmest of sentiments.

140

>y Google

A MARBIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Thus it was that I began so unfortu-
nately with my cousin, Patrick Blake.
I was really sorry for him, I wanted
to show him that I was truly his
kinswoman, and before I knew what I
was doing, I had made him think that I
was in love with him, and that he had
only to ask and to have. He did ask,
and I had to be cruel. As the issue
showed, I was not cruel enough.

Then, again, another consideration
weighed with me. I felt, rightly or
wrongly, that most of those who pur-
sued me, including my savage cousin,
did so because I was a wealthy woman,
and I felt a malicious pleasure in dang-
ling my fortune before them and mak-
ing them believe that it was attainable.
All the time I was saying in my own
mind, " I mean to amuse myself with
the foolish creatures as much as I
please, but, until I find a man who
141

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

loves me for myself alone, I will never
marry.'*

This might have been all very well
in civilised England ; among the wild
mountains of Western Ireland it was
playing a desperate game.

When Patrick Blake first offered to
marry me I was amused; he seemed to
think the assault so easy. Even when
all his pent-up passion broke stormily
upon me, I was still amused and even
flattered. His threats seemed those of
an ill-conditioned schoolboy; I could
not realise that they had any serious
meaning.

I discovered very quickly that I was
wrong, and tried in vain, by gentle
measures, to repair the mischief I had
done. I still felt sorry for him, know-
ing that I had inherited what he might
otherwise have possessed, and I wished
to show him all the kindness in my

142

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTURE.

power. This amiability, I think now,
was a mistake.

I realised my position for the first
time after that first attack in the woods.
I knew by instinct that my assailant was
no vulgar robber, and I identified him
almost immediately as my Cousin Pat-
rick. What his reason was for so ap-
parently aimless an assault I could not
understand, but I had heard that he
was in league with desperate men, and
I called in the protection ol

It was at this juncture t
suitor for my hand, Mr. Phili
interposed as a possible pro
had already proposed to m<
declined his offer ; he now i
suit with tenfold fervour. Ih
him as before. But, with a \^
versity, I answered him so te
retain him as a sort of unacc
alier. Instead of dismissing

143

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

and forever, I deceived myself and him
with the will-o'-the-wisp of friendship.

Then came the second attack on my
person, from which, as I believed, I
was saved by the man whose offer of
marriage I had more than once re-
jected* Again I seemed to recognise
the work of my cousin, and I remem-
bered his words — "If you refuse to
have me, you shall have no other man !'*
Terrified beyond measure, I was almost
tempted to take Mr. Langford at his
word, and constitute him my legal pro-
tector. Prom this step I was deterred
by two considerations — ^my own wish
to retain my freedom, and Mr. Lang-
ford's irritating pertinacity.

Let me be quite frank. My feelings
•towards Mr. Langford were very dif-
ferent from those which I entertained
for Mr. Blake. Li every possible re-
spect the two men were a contrast to

144

>y Google

A MABEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

each other. My coasin, despite his
good looks, was what I have described
him to be, an untutored boy, the slave
of low passions and coarse vices. Mr.
Langford, on the contrary, was a perfect
gentleman, handsome, fascinating even,
and without a stain upon his character.
Never, under any circumstances, could
I have hesitated between these two
suitors; one of them repelled me in
every way, while the other attracted
me continually.

I will now, without further preamble,
come to the occurrences of the last
fortnight, and to that extraordinary ad-
venture with which they culminated.

My persecutions had ceased, my days
were gliding uneventfully along, and I
had almost forgotten my cousin's exist-
(Bnce, when news was brought to me
that he had returned from a long visit
to Dublin. A little nervous, and anx-
10 145

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

ious to ascertain if I was for^ven, I
contrived to drive past the inn where
he resided, and to catch a glimpse of
him face to face. His manner relieved
all my fears. He seemed light-hearted
and merry, and I thought to myself,
" He is cured, and I shan't be troubled
any more.*'

That evening Mr. Langford called
upon me, and, referring incidentally to
the fact of my cousin's return, again
asked me to become his wife.

" You know my decision," I replied,
" and really your renewal of the sub-
ject is a little monotonous !"

" Why do you still refuse to marry
me ?" he asked, fixing those sad eyes
of his upon me. " Do you hate me so
much?''

"If I hated you," I replied, "I
would not receive you here;" then
laughingly I added, "I really believe

146

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTURE.

that my cousin, savage as he is, loves
me better than you do !"

" Why do you say that ?" he asked,
gently.

" "Well, he is thorough, at any rate.
He does not hang after my heels and
fetch and carry. He is like one of the
old knights, who loved desperately, and
tried to seize by force what he could
not win by favour. At any rate, he is
romantic !"

It was a foolish speech, as the issue
proved.

Two days afterwards I drove into
Westport and cashed a cheque at the
bank ; then, as the afternoon was fine,
I determined to drive over to Bally-
croy, dine with an old friend of mine,
Mrs. Bourne, and return home next
morning. I apprehended no danger,
and had almost forgotten that I had an
enemy in the world.
147

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

The Bun was low down in the west-
ern sky, when, leaving behind us the
village of Mulrany, we drove along the
desolate road which winds through the
mountains of Mayo, following the long
arm or estuary of the sea, beyond which
rise other mountains, culminating in
the highest peak of the Island of Achill.
To our right the mountains rose precipi-
tously into granite peaks, which shone
clear and distinct in the rosy light.
Not a sound disturbed the solitude,
save now and again the cry of a sea-
gull or the faint " honk-honk" of the
wild goose winging high up in the
air.

Never had my heart felt lighter and
more full of peace.

Mile after mile we drove through
the solitude, and not one human being
passed us on the road. At last we
came in sight of the old bridge near

148

>y Google

A MAERIAQE BY CAPTURE,

Ballyveeny, through which the river
flows, emptying itself into the salt est-
uary.

"It's a lonesome spot, your lady-
ship," said the driver, turning to me
and touching his hat. "It was here
that the boys laid in wait for Lord
Sligo's agent."

" What happened ?" I asked, smiling.

"Well, sure they waited under the
bridge two nights and days, and Mr.
Smith, the agent, didn't come, and on
the third night, when he did come,
they were drunk as lords, and though
they fired at the car, devil a ha'porth
of harrum came of it; but the horse
galloped off with Mr. Smith and the
driver, and young Mr. Smith, a boy of
seventeen, jumped off wid his Utile
small pea-rifle and shot one of the men
in the back just as he was running
over the brow of the hill."

149

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

"WaahekUled?"

" Clane, and there he lay on his face
gripping his gun till Dr. Croley came
and found him, and afterwards young
Mr. Smith had to lave the country for
fear of his own life.*'

So saying, he whipped up the horses
and approached the bridge at a rapid
trot.

By this time it was almost dark, the
sun had gone down behind the moun-
tains of Achill, and the shadows of
night were closing in on every side.

Suddenly, without the slightest warn-
, ing, just as we were about to cross the
bridge, the figure of a man dashed
from the roadside and seized the horses,
which reeled back, almost overthrowing
the car. At the same moment three
other men, with blackened faces, ap-
peared at my side, and before I could
utter a cry for help I saw the driver
150

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE,

fall from his seat to the groand, and
felt myself seized and lifted from the
car. I straggled and screamed, but a
hand was placed over my mouth and
a rough voice cried, "Hould your
paace !*'

Then, I suppose, I must have feinted
away*

When I recovered my senses I could
see nothing. Some dark substance
was flung around my head and face,
almost suffocating me, and I was being
borne along, I knew not whither, in a
man's arms. I struggled wildly, tore
the wrappings away, and shrieked
aloud. As I did so I saw the black-
ened faces of several men. The next
moment my head and face were again
covered, and my voice was smothered
in thick folds.

"Keep silence, my ladyl" said a
voice. " We don't want to harm you,.

161

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

but we'll have to do it if you're not
aisy!"

In spite of this warning I tried again
to call for help, but it was in vain.
Terrified and horrified beyond measure,
I again swooned away.

On recovering a second time I found
myself still blindfolded, with my hands
tightly bound. Then, listening intently,
I heard a sound like the splashing of
oars, and I realised in a moment that I
was lying in a boat of some sort and
rocking upon the water.

Suddenly the sound ceased, and a
voice said,—

" Wheest, I see a light yonder on the
landr

" Kape in the shadow," said another
voice. "It's the peelers drivin' down
from Mulrany."

The sound of oars was resumed, and
I felt the boat gliding rapidly on. Sick

152

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTURE.

with fear, I struggled to release myself,
but a hand was placed upon me, gently
enough, and I could not stir.

" Lie still, honey," said the voice I
had heard first " No harm will come
to ye, and ye may close your eyes and
sleep as safely as if ye were in your
own room at home."

"Who are you?" I murmured.
" Where are you taking me to ? For
God's sake "

Another voice, stronger and d<
evidently that of a young man,
broke in.

"We're friends, your lad]
friends entirely. We wouldn't h
hair of your ladyship's head, and
takin' ye to a place where you'll b
and well."

"You cowards, why don't yoi
me ? It would be better for me
dead than lying here."
16a

>y Google

A MAEEIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

This time there was no reply, but I
heard the men whispering together in
the Irish tongue. The oars went fiaster
and faster, and the boat glided on.

Why linger over the hours of that
night ? All my appeals were in vain,
and I remained utterly helpless.

Presently the boat began to toss
heavily, and I could hear the waves
dashing violently against its sides,
while from time to time a dash of sea
spray soaked the veil which covered
my face. The sound of oars ceased,
and directly the boat heeled over under
sail.

It was now bitterly cold, and 1 could
feel that a strong wind was blowing,
and that the boat was rushing swiftly
through the water. The waves splashed,
the wind whistled, and the light craft
seemed plunging up and down in the
trough of a stormy sea.

15i

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

Terrified as I was, I think I must
have fallen to sleep. Unclosing my
eyes, still in complete darkness, I heard
one of the men saying —

"Poor lady, she's worn out en-
tirely! May the Lord help her.
Musha, this is a bad night's work !"

I was still lying where they had
placed me, and I was quite warm. A
bundle of some soft material formed a
pillow for my head.

The heavy veil had been partially
withdrawn from my head, but I was
still blindfolded, and my hands were
bound.

I lay still, thinking. It was clear
enough to me now that my captors,
whoever they might be, meant me no
immediate bodily harm. Still my po-
sition was a horrible one, and realising
it to the full, I felt sick with suspense
and terror.

166

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

At last I summoned strength to speak
again.

"If my cousin, Patrick Blake, is
here, will he speak to me V* I cried.

There was no answer.

" I ask you, is my cousin here ?"

" Ax no questions, my lady," said a
voice, " and we'll tell you no lies."

" Where are you taking me ?"

"You'll soon know, my lady, if
you'll keep aisy. Lie quiet, and hould
your tongue, like a swate lady, as ye
are."

It was useless to plead or question ;
I was in their power, and utterly help-
less. I still heard the plashing of the
water and the whistling of the wind,
while the boat swept swiftly from wave
to wave. Hours must have passed
thus, while again and again, exhausted
and wearied out, I fell into fitful slum-
ber.

156

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Suddenly the noise of wind and
storm subsided, and we seemed to have
slipped into smooth water. A few
minutes later there was a slight shock,
as if the boat was rushing in on shingle
or sand, and I heard the men crying
to each other —

" Lower the sail ; run her up, boys."

"Another pull."

" Aisy now, that'll do."

"Hould the light there !"

" Saints be praised, we're out of that."

"Hurry now, hurry — here wid the
light!"

Some one bent over me and drew off
the rugs which covered me, saying —

"You're safe now, my lady, and
you'll soon be snug by a warm fire."

And I was raised in two strong
arms.

" Let me go," I cried. " Where are
you taking me ?"

157

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTURE.

I screamed aloud, but my voice was
quickly drowned, and I was myself
being carried rapidly away. Whoever
my captor was, his strength must have
been great, for he ran with me as if I
were no weight at all, and I heard his
companion following. My next im-
pression was of being carried up steps
into a house of some sort, and then up
a steep flight of stairs. At this my
terror deepened, as was natural, and I
shrieked again.

"Wheest, wheest, my lady!" cried
a woman's voice. "You're safe now,
saints be praised, wid your friends."

Nevertheless I continued to cry and
struggle, while the man who held me
in his arms continued to ascend. At
length we paused, and I was set down,
but still held in a powerful grip.

"Open the door," cried a voice
which I seemed to know.

158

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

There was the sound like the draw-
ing of a bolt and the turning of a lock,
and I was drawn forward. I heard
the movement of several persons
around me; then I was placed gently
on a seat, and my hands were un-
bound. While I raised my hands to
tear off the covering from my eyes, I
heard the door close and a lock turn.
With a cry I drew away the covering
— it was a large handkerchief of white
silk — and looked around me.

It was a large old-fashioned cham-
ber, furnished as a bedroom. Eound
the walls ran a wainscot of polished
oak, very old and worn, and the floor
was of the same material. There was
an open fireplace and a bright turf fire
was burning on the hearth and casting
ghostly lights upon the walls.

In one corner of the room was a
small modem bedstead of brass, with

159

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

clean white hangings and hedding^
and close to it a large armchair, in
which I was seated. There was one
small window to the room, hung with
snow-white curtains, and near it a
dressing-tahle and looking-glass, with
hair-brushes, scent-bottles, and pin-
cushion. It was clear that an attempt
had been made to make the room
comfortable and pretty, possibly for
my reception.

But my spirit was now up in arms
against the outrage and indignity
which I had suffered. Bushing to
the door, I tried to open it: it was
locked from the outside. I ran to the
window and threw it open, but it was
black night all around, and I could see
nothing. In my desperation I think I
should have leapt out, but the window
was protected by close iron bars.

Eeturning to the door, I struck at

160

>y Google

A MAERIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

it again and again with my clenched
hands.

" Open, open !" I cried.

There was a shuffling step on the
landing, and the same woman's voice
which I had heard before said —

" What is it, my lady r

" Open the door, I command you. I
wish to leave this place. Open! Open!"

And I struck at the panel with all
my strength.

"Sure, you can't lave to-night, my
lady," said the voice. " Bide in peace
till the morning, and ye shall do as ye
plase."

" I will go at once ! I forbid you to
detain me ! Open, I say !"

There was no answer, though I con-
tinued to beat upon the door and to
cry for help. At last, worn out and
despairing, I crossed the room and
threw myself into the arm-chair,
u 161

>y Google

A MAEMAGE BY CAPTUBE.

What could it mean ? "What house
was it ? And why had I been brought
here ? I could think of only one ex-
planation — that my cousin, Patrick
Blake, had fulfilled his threats, and had
carried me off by force, with the aid
of his desperate companions? If so,
what was to become of me ? To what
further degradation and humiliation
was I to be subjected?

As I sat thus, trembling and think-
ing, the door opened suddenly and an
old woman entered the room* I sprang
up, and as I did so the door was closed
and locked behind her.

She stood looking at me sadly, rock-
ing her head from side to side. Her
hair was white as snow, her face not
unkindly, and though her form was
bent with years, she still seemed hale
and strong.

" Who are you ?" I cried, facing her.

162

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" What place is this, and why have I
been brought here ?'*

"Bide a bit, my swate lady,'^ she
replied; "the masther himself will
come to ye !"

"The master? Whom do you
mean ?"

"I mane one who loves ye as the
light and sunshine of his life, acushla —
one who would die for ye if need be —
one who is waiting and praying for
your forgiveness."

"Do you mean my cousin, Patrick
Blake?" I asked, wildly.

"Bide a bit, bide a bit," she said,
gently. "Sit ye down, and let old
Nannie bring ye bite and sup before
ye lie down and sleep. Ye may do
that same in pace, my lady, for him
that adores ye is watching over ye !"

Trembling between anger and amaze,
I pushed past her, and again rushed to

163

>y Google^

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

the door. At that moment it opened,
and a man appeared on the threshold.

I knew him in a moment.

What was my amazement to recog-
nize, not the man whom I had sus-
pected — but Mr. Philip Langford.

His face was very pale, but his ex-
pression was calm and determined.

With a cry of horrified wonder I
recoiled before him, and stood gazing
wildly into his face, while the old
woman, trembling and muttering to
herself, slipt past him and left the
room. He approached nearer. I stood
still, looking at him, my heart throb-
bing and all my blood boiling in indig-
nation against him.

"My God,'* I murmured, "then it
was you !"

He bent his head and his face grew
paler still.

" Will you listen to me ?" he said, in

164

>y Google

-2.
q1

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

a low voice, " I wish to explain every-
thing T

" I will not listen/' I said indignantly.
" I have nothing to say to you; I wish
to leave this house, I "

As I moved to pass him he turned to
the door, closed it, and stood with his
back to it looking at me.

^* Ton must remain where you are,'*
he said, " at least to-night. Do so, and
I swear to you that no harm shall come
to you. For what I have done, Cath-
erine, I ask your forgiveness. I was
mad, perhaps, but I took you at your
word. It was my last chance."

I remained stupefied, at a loss to
comprehend him, only conscious of a
sickening horror and dread of him.
He saw and understood the expression
on my face, and continued in his low,
sad, musical voice —

"You remember what you said —

165

>y Google

▲ HABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

that he who married you must win
you even against your own will ? The
devil put it in my head to do it, and
you are here. This is my house.
Your person is sacred in it, but I wish
you to remain as its mistress — ^as my
wife.'*

"Your wife?" I repeated. "You
coward! I will never forgive you,
never again take your hand even in
friendship, and for what you have done
to me you shall be punished, be sure of
that. Stand aside, sir, and let me go !'^

"It is too late for that, Catherine,
even if it were my will that we should
part It is not my will — you must re-
main !"

I struggled to pass him, but he stood
like a rock. In my mad passion I
struck him in the face with all my
strength. He smiled sadly and looked
into my eyes.

166

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

"You Bee it is ufleless/' he said,
" what is done is done. I would gladly
recall it, but regrets are always in vain.
By this time the alarm has been given,
and you are being sought for far and
wide. It will be thought, no doubt, that
you are dead, murdered perhaps. Well,
aprls? No one will guess the truth
until I choose to reveal it. In the
meantime I ask you to think it all over
— ^to remember the love I bear you —
and to ask yourself is it not better to
resign oneself to the inevitable ?"

" You mean that I am your prisoner ?
That you will dare to detain me here ?
Think what you are doing ! Suffer me
to go now, and I will try to forget what
you have done I"

"There is only one way now," he
answered, quietly. "You must con-
sent to be my wife."

"I will never do that!" I cried.

167

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAFTUBE.

f< Never, never! even if I had ever
cared for you, what jou have done
would make me hate jou and despise
JOU. I thought JOU were a gentleman
— ^you are a scoundrel — a scoundrel,
and a miserable coward !"

" Whatever I am, I love jou, Cather-
ine. That is all the defence I have to
offer."

" Help, there, help !" I cried.

" It is useless," he said, " no one will
heed jou. The people are bound to
me, and thej have their instructions.
If you are wise jou will remain here
quietly. Whatever you need or ask
for shall be brought to you. My old
housekeeper will look after your com-
fort. You may assure yourself that
you are perfectly safe under this roof
— ^rest here in peace— and to-morrow I
will come to you again."

Before I could answer him again, he

1G8

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

slipped out of the door, which he
locked upon me. Convinced now that
escape was impossible, I threw myself
into the chair and fell into a passion
of angry tears.

Presently I grew calmer. All my
pride was aroused, and I determined,
by one method or another, to be even
with the man who had used me so
infamously. Instead of struggling in
vain to escape, I would await my op-
portunity and seize it. There was
nothing else to do.

Suddenly I heard voices through the
window. I arose, looked out, and lis-
tened. All was still very dark, but I
distinctly heard the voice of Langford
giving some directions. A gruff voice
replied, " All right, your honour," then
I heard the sound of a horse's hoofs
growing fainter and fainter. Some one
was gallopino-^way from the house.
169

>y Google

A HABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

I returned to my seat, and sat look-
ing at the fire.

Presently the door opened, and the
old woman appeared, carrying a tray-
covered with a white napkin. On the
tray was a hasin of broth, some bis-
cuits, and a glass of wine.

This time I made no attempt to es-
cape, but remained seated, watching
the woman, who placed the tray on a
small table beside me.

"Will your ladyship ate and drink
something?" she said, coaxingly.
" Sure it's poor fare for a great lady
like you, but it's the best ould Nannie
can offer ye this night."

" Where is your master ?" I asked.

"He's ridden away to Mulrany,"
was the reply. " I was to tell you he'd
be back at daybreak."

In a moment I leapt to my feet and
ran to the door which stood wide open,

170

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

but on the threshold I was captured
by two men who stood on the landing;
one was old, the other young, but both
were strong and powerful.

" Ye can't pass, my lady," said the
older man. " We're to watch over you
till the masther comes back !"

" For God's sake, let me go !" I cried.
" Help me from this house. I am rich ;
you shall be well rewarded; you know
I am a prisoner here; you know I
have been kept here against my will,
and "

" Sure we know all that, my lady,"
answered the old man, respectftiUy,
" but we've our orders from the mas-
ther. You don't lave here till it's his
pleasure that you shall go !"

" Come now, honey, and ate a bit,"
said the old woman, softly.

I looked at the men, and saw that
they were determined, and with an
171

>y Google

A HABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

angry cry I walked back to my
prison.

How the rest of the night passed I
scarcely remember. I was again left
alone to my own wild thoughts, and at
last, worn out and hopeless, I must
have fallen asleep.

I awoke shivering. The fire had
gone out, and the cold grey dawn was
creeping in through the window. I
arose wearily and looked out The
room I occupied was at the top of the
house; below it was a large paved
yard, with stable and out-buildings, and
beyond that a dreary prospect of bog
and mountain.

A man was in the yard whistling
and polishing some harness. He was
a young and stalwart peasant, and I
had never, to my knowledge, seen his
face before.

He looked up and our eyes met, but
172

>y Google

A MAEBIAGE BY CAPTUEB.

he immediately turned his face away.
I opened the window and called to
him; he paid no attention whatever.
I looked around on every side, and saw
only the dreary landscape lighted by a
rainy dawn, but suddenly I heard the
sound of a horse galloping, and imme-
diately afterwards Mr, Langford, wet
and mud-bestained, rode into the
yard.

He alighted and handed his horse to
the man, who said something to him,
and he looked iip towards the window
and waved his hand.

I turned away from the window and
waited quietly. In a few minutes I
heard a footstep on the landing, and
there was a knock at the door.

" May I come in V said the voice of
the master of the house.

I made no reply. After a brief
pause the key was turned in the lock,

173

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAPTUB£.

the door opened, and Mr. Langford
appeared.

"Good-morning, Catherine," he said.

I sat silent, and did not even look at
him.

" I hope you have rested ?" he con-
tinued. "I shouldn't have disturbed
you had I not seen that you were up
and awake.''

I remained in the same position, my
face averted, my eyes on the empty
fireplace, but when he approached and
bent over me, I sprang to my feet.

" Do not touch me !" I cried.

** Forgive me," he said. "I was
merely anxious on your account. Be-
lieve me, I would give my life to undo
what I have done."

" Have you come to set me free ?" I
asked, panting and gazing fiercely into
his face.

"No," he replied; and while I

174

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTURE^

uttered an angry cry, he continued:
" I have come to tell you that they are
searching for you far and wide. Close
to the bridge at Mulrany they have
found your cloak and a blood-stained
handkerchief, and the impression is
that you have been killed, thrown into
the river, and swept out to sea. I my-
self, as in duty bound, have been assist-
ing in the search, and I have offered a
reward of one hundred pounds to any
one who will explain the mystery of
your disappearance.**

So saying he drew forth a printed
placard, which offered the reward in
question. I looked at it in wonder,
and from him to it. There was a
strange smile on his face, but his lips
were quivering, and his eyes kept their
usual sadness.

"You see I am 'thorough,* as you
once called it. Thanks to my inge-
176

>y Google

A MABEIAGE BY CAPTURE.

nuity, no one will ever think of look-
ing for you here. No one will suspect
that Philip Langford, who offers a re-
ward for your discovery, and is him-
self so active in instructing the police,
is really the prime agent in the whole
affair."

I gazed at him in terror ; the whole
scheme seemed so cold-blooded| so dia-
bolical.

** God will punish you," I exclaimed,
*' even if I can't!"

The smile faded away, and he re-
plied, wearily —

'*Qod has punished me already. I
have staked my soul on this hazard,
and I fear that I have lost."

I fell at his feet, clinging to him, and
looking up into his face.

" Let me go !" I sobbed. " Let me go
now, and I will pardon everything — no
one shall know what you have done-^
176

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

I will be silent — only let me go! for
God's sake let me go !"

He bent over me, and took my face
between his hands. I did not resist,
for I thought that his heart was yield-
ing. All my thought was how to es-
cape from this man, for whom I felt an
ever-increasing terror.

"My poor Catherine!" he said, and
I saw that his eyes were dim with
tears. "If you knew how my heart
has bled for you ! if you knew how I
have cursed myself for seeming so un-
kind to what I love so dearly. Can
you forgive me after all V

"Yes, yes," I murmured eagerly.
" I will forgive — ^I will forget — only let
me go ! I am sure you do not wish to
harm me — ^you have been mad, but it
is over now — and — ^and "

My voice died away in sobs as he
said, kissing me on the forehead —
12 177

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BT CAPTUBE.

" You are right — ^I have been mad-
but I am mad still, and I feel some-
times as if I should never be sane
again. Yet I love you! I love
you!''

I think he would have lifted me and
folded me in his anns^ but I rose
quickly and drew myself away.

" You will do as you wish ?" I cried.

" I cannot," he replied. " If I did
that, I should lose you for ever !'*

" Do not speak of that, but do as I
entreat, as I command. You have
done evil enough already— do not add
to it — do not make me hate you even
more."

He turned from me and paced the
room in gloomy thought. I watched
him anxiously. At last he turned to
me again, saying :

"Will you promise to become my
wife?"

178

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE;

" I will not promise what I can never
perform," was my reply.

"Catherine, your reputation is at
stake. You know what people will
say when they know that you have
been here with me V*

"I do not care. I have promised
to be silent, but if the truth is ever
known, it will be clear that I am not
to blame."

"You said you hated me. Is that
true?"

" I don't know. I can only think of
one thing, how to leave this dreadful
place. Don't torture me. Prove y^ur
love and set me free."

Again he paced the room, and again
I watched him anxiously.

" You must remain a little longer,"
he said, at last. ♦* My mind is swept
this way and that, and I cannot decide.
You shall hear from me to-night."

179

>y Google

A MASBIAOE BY CAFTURS.

He left abraptly, and I still remained
a prisoner.

The day passed, and I saw no more
of Mr. Langford. By this time I h&d
made up my mind that escape was im-
possible, bnt feeling convinced that nc
farther violence would be attempted,
resigned myself to my captivity. St:
eager for some means of evading ir
gaolers, I conversed freely with the o>
crone, and even at her urgent reque
partook of a little food. Most of 1>
talk consisted of warm panegyre
on her master, whom she regar*d
as the greatest and best of hui^n
beings.

Her name, I found, was Nannie (j^e
noUy, the old man was her husbaid
and the two younger men whom I Bo
seen were her sons. All of them w •
devoted to their master, as was clearly-
7n, indeed, by the risks they had

180

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE,

run in exposing themselves to the pun-
ishment of the law.

Just after nightfall, Nannie brought
me a letter.

1 It was written by Mr. Langford, and
Van as follows :

tc " I will not visit you to-night, for it
k torture for me to refuse you anything,
tcloathe myself for what I have done,

it I am like a ship without helm or
tril, driven along helplessly at the

vcy of the storm. It is right you
onioild know that the police have ar-
pla»ed Patrick Blake on suspicion of
lovi g concerned in your disappearance.

.a man is a worthless ruffian, but in
I \s respect, as you know, he is quite

\ocent. What a coward you will
he ak me, to stand by silently and hear
.another man accused of my crime. Do
not judge me too harshly, however.

181

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

No harm shall come to him through
me, although I cannot yet make up my
mind how to act.

"P.L."

This communication only served to
deepen my sense of shame and horror.
I sent a message to the writer, demand-
ing to see him immediately, but he re-
fused to come. All my anxiety now
was for my unfortunate cousin. I
could not bear to think that he should
be suffering so unjustly.

The night passed, and for the first
time I slept soundly, though my sleep
was troubled with feverish dreams.

"Why enter into the dismal particu-
lars of the rest of my captivity ? As
every one now knows, I was kept at
Langford House for three long weary
nights, in spite of my constant en-
treaties and prayers. No one suspected

182

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

my hiding-place, for few creatures at
any time approached that lonely dwell-
ing, and the police regarded Mr. Lang-
ford as above suspicion.

From time to time my captor ap-
peared before me, but the result of our
interviews was invariably the same,
until the morning of the third day,
when he appeared before me booted
and spurred, and said quietly :

" I am riding over to Newport, where
your cousin is to be brought before the
magistrates. I have been subpoenaed
to bear witness against him." He
added, while I looked at him in hor-
ror, "Do not distress yourself on his
account — ^hewill be discharged. Ton
will write a letter from Craig Castle
saying that you are safe and well; you
will send it on to the court by special
messenger, and the result will be your
cousin's immediate release."

183

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

" Then I am at liberty to depart ?"

" Yes. My boatmen will row you
across the bay, and you will alight
close at your own door."

He was so calm, so inscrutable, that
I was puzzled.

"As to your account of what has
taken place," he continued, " you will
use your own discretion. I deserve
no consideration, and expect to receive
none. I have played my last card and
lost the game. Be assured that no
evil tongue will ever injure you while
I am alive to justify you and to con-
demn myself."

Thus it happened that I returned to
my home in the very boat which had
conveyed me away on the memorable
night of my abduction. Old Nannie
wrapt around me a warm peasant cloak
of her own, and parted from me with
many blessings.

184

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

Mr. Langford followed me to the
shore and helped me to my seat behind
the rowers — old Michael Connolly and
his two sons.

The boat pushed off and I did not
speak a word. As we rowed away
Mr. Langford stood on the shore, bare-
headed, watching me depart

I shall never forget the expression
of his despairing face.

Unseen by any one I quitted the
boat on the shore of my own estate.
No one saw me, for thick woodlands
screen the sea-shore from the Castle.

As I turned to go, the old man,
Connolly, stood, hat in hand, with the
tears streaming down his face, but he
was not thinking of himself.

" God bless your ladyship," he said.
"Don^t spake against the poor mas-
ther. His heart is broke intirely."

Thus, to the surprise of my servants,

185

>y Google

A MABSIAGE BT CAPTITRXL .

I re-entered my home, and, goixi>ff a
once to my boudoir, wrote the ItMei
which Mr. Langford showed ta ff&i
magistrates. During the run hoJme-
ward, I had quite made up my irJiod
not to say one word which could impli-
cate the really guilty person. I needed
no one to tell me that his shame and
misery were already deep enough, and,
in spite of my indignation at his con-
duct, I pitied him with all my soul.

I have now set down the whole facts,
so far, at least, as I know them, con-
nected with my abduction. It is my
fervent prayer that they may never be
published to the world, but may remain
secret in the bosoms of the persons
chiefly concerned, with the single ex-
ception of that good man whom I have
called in all sincerity my only friend.

Before closing this page of my life for
ever, I wish to mention only one more

186

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTTJRE.

circumstance. Shortly after my libera-
tion I paid a visit to my cousin, Patrick
Blake, and, as some compensation for
the indignity and annoyance to which
he had been subjected on my account,
offered him a considerable share of my
inheritance, to be paid to him regu-
lE larly through my bankers. He ac-
i£ cepted this gift without hesitation,
m pledging himself in return to forget all
past misunderstandings.

Catherine Power.

187

>y Google

CHAPTER IX.

SEVERAL weeks passed, and the
*^ mysterious affair which had so
ominous a beginning and so extraordi-
nary a termination was almost for-
gotten. Miss Power remained in Eng-
land, now and then sending a few lines
to Father O'Donnell and receiving a
letter from him in return. Wisely
enough, the worthy priest, in his com-
munication, alluded scarcely at all to
the past. He rejoiced to learn that
Catherine was, according to her own
account, well and happy, and fearful
of opening up old wounds, he made no

188

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

mention of the individual who had
caused them.
. But one morning in early spring
Catherine received a letter from the
priest containing, among other less in-
teresting local gossip, the following
passage :

"I had intended, my dear child,
never to torment you with any news
which might remind you of what you
suffered when residing here in Ireland.
Such things are best forgotten. But
unfortunately I am now compelled to
break my resolution. It is only just to
you and to the unhappy man of whom
I write that I should do so.

"You must know then that a few
days ago, while riding at night through
the mountains, Mr. Philip Langford
was shot at by some person or persons
unknown and dangerously wounded.
His horse galloped home without him,

189

>y Google

A MABRIAaE BY CAPTUBB.

and his servants, taking the alarm, went
out to search for their missing master.
They discovered him at daybreak, ly-
ing insensible on the highway between
Newport and Mulrany, and carried him
home.

^* Medical assistance was sent for, and
it was found that he had been shot in
the back by a gun loaded with slugs,
and that his wounds were in all proba-
bility mortal.

" On hearing the news I could not
help thinking to myself *this is the
punishment of GodT Yet I could
have wished that it had come to the
unhappy man in some less dreadful
fashion.

" I visited him yesterday, as in duty
bound. I found him conscious, and
lying in a darkened room. He told me
that he believed himself to be dying,
and he entreated me to convey to you

190

>y Google

A MABBIAQE BY CAPTUBE.

the assurance of his penitence for the
great wrong he had done you. I prom-
ised to send this message to you, and
besought him to make his peace with
God. At his desire he confessed to
me, and I absolved him. To-day I am
going to visit him again. Dr. Croley
assures me that there is little or no hope
of his recovery.

" I forgot to mention that Mr. Lang-
ford himself has no suspicion as to his
assailant — indeed, he seems quite indif-
ferent on the subject, and, when inter-
rogated by the police, was unable to
give them any information. I have
my own suspicions, but, of course, they
are only suspicions. But of one thing
I am certain — ^that if the unhappy man
dies, his death will give rise to further
trouble. The Connollys, father and
sons, adore Mr. Langford, and in ex-
pressing to me their belief that the man

191

>y Google

A MABBIAGE BY CAPTUBE.

who shot at him was your coasin, Pat-
rick Blake, or if not Blake himself,
one of his creatures, they have clearly
intimated that they will retaliate and
avenge their master. Thus, you see,
one evil deed begets another. Here,
in Gonnaught, the peasantry still re-
tain the savage spirit of the vendetta,
and I dread what may shortly happen.'*

A week after Catherine received
this communication, Philip Langford
was still living, but tossing in fever,
he hovered between life and death.
By his bedside, in the darkened room,
sat a woman, dressed simply and
plainly like a hospital nurse. The
doctor, a young, powerful-looking man,
was bending over the bed taking the
patient's temperature.

After some minutes he left the room,
beckoning to the woman to follow.

" The fever's on the turn," he whis-

192

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTUEE.

pered outside the door. " If his strength
keeps up he may pull through after
all."

"Thank God!" said the woman.
"Oh, Doctor Oroley, save him, save
him r

** Sure, ril do my best," answered
the doctor, "but you must help me.
It's lucky, indeed, he is to have a nurse
like you."

Several days later the fever had al-
most passed away. Langford opened
his eyes from a sound sleep, and en-
countered the bright gleam of two
black eyes — ^those of Father John
O'Donnell.

" You're better now, my son," said
the good priest, gently patting the
wasted hand which lay on the coverlet,
and soon, with God's blessing, you will
be up and about."

The invalid shook his head sadly.

18 198

>y Google

A MABRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

" I'm not looking for that," he said.

"Don't you want to live?" asked
the other. " Come, now, I wrote Miss
Power your message, and like an angel
as she is, she has sent yon her forgive-
ness. Isn't that enough to put life into
you ?" he added, smiling.

" God bless her," said Langford, an-
swering the smile sadly and wearily.
" All the time, while I've been lying
here, I've been thinking of her, and
sometimes it seemed she was by me,
looking down and smiling sweetly on
me. When I am gone. Father, tell her
that I died blessing her. I couldn't
help loving her! I couldn't help lov-
ing her !"

" More shame to ye !" exclaimed the
priest, beaming benignantly. " Love's
a snare, sir, and a delusion. And ye
behaved like a scoundrel entirely !"

"God knows I did. Father; it was

194

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE.

in this very room that I kept her a
prisoner, and to be lying here, where
she was once, is like lying in the light
of heaven."

"Ye're a profane man," returned
O'Donnell, w^ith an expression that
belied the rebuke, " and Tm shocked
at you. Will ye promise to get well,
now, if I overlook your depravity ?"

" There is nothing left to live for.
She was the light of my life, the pulse
of my heart, the breath of my breath,
anrl T Invfid hfir hotter than Grn(\, Mav

>y Google

A MARRIAGE BY CAPTURE,

were thrown around him, and a warm
cheek, wet with tears, was pressed
against his arm.

"Yes, Philip," said the voice of his
beloved. " I am here beside you, and
you are going to live for my sake.
Don't you remember what I once told
you — that there was something charm-
ing in the old days, when marriage by
capture was the fashion, and the strong-
est man won ? And how I said, too,
that I would never surrender to any
man, unless he made me ?"

" Yes, I remember."

*^ Well, dear," continued Catherine,
sobbing and laughing together, " I've
come back to tell you that you were
the strongest, and that, if you don't
mind, and promise to get well quickly,
I'm going to marry you after all."

THE END.
196

>y Google

\r-

>y Google

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Texts

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "A marriage by capture; a romance of to-day"

See other formats